bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 and threats to pregnancy and the fetus
Authors: Raczkiewicz Przemysław , Śmiech Natalia , Korzec Tomasz , Kania Konrad , Kaczerska Marlena
Published: June 2021

11 March 2020 WHO assessmented that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 RNA virus is highly contagious and is transmitted by droplets.It appears that pregnant women may be at a higher risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2, which increases the risk to pregnancy and fetal defects. The course of the disease in this group of patients is more severe due to the changes in the immune and respiratory systems. Despite the constantly growing number of publications on the course of COVID-19 infection, the available data is insufficient.
Methods of assessing body composition and anthropometric measurements – a review of the literature
Authors: Pawlak Angelika , Ręka Gabriela , Olszewska Anna , Warchulińska Joanna , Piecewicz-Szczęsna Halina
Published: June 2021

Introduction and purpose            Body composition assessment is an important element in determining the health of the body, which enables us to estimate the percent content of particular tissues in the body. Measured parameters include the amount of adipose tissue, muscle, bone tissue, and hydration. The aim of the study is to present a differentiation of methods of assessing body composition and anthropometric measurements after analysis of 29 scientific publications from Pubmed and Google Scholar.A brief description of the state of knowledgeBioelectrical impedance analysis, densitometry, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and air displacement plethysmography are methods that enable us to assess body composition and hydration. These methods differ from each other in equipment which is used, accuracy, test price, and technique of measurement. The differences in the accuracy of measurements result from the lack of correlation between the methods given. Skinfold thickness, body mass index, waist to hip circumference ratio, and growth charts in children are methods of assessing anthropometric measurements. The research shows the use of individual methods of assessing body composition and methods of anthropometric measurements among different age groups.Conclusions                                                       There are many devices and methods for measuring body composition and for anthropometric measurements, which can be used in different age groups. They are important in assessing human growth, development, and health status and can be used in clinical practice.
The dynamics of TNF-α and IFN-γ content in adult patients with measles depending on the severity of the disease
Authors: Riabokon O. V. , Bilokobyla S. O. , Riabokon Yu. Yu. , Onishchenko N. V.
Published: June 2021

Background. Measles is an acute viral infection, predominantly of childhood ages. However, in recent years, the incidence of measles among adults has significantly increased, with the development of a severe and complicated course of the disease.Materials and methods. The study included 175 patients with measles and 30 healthy people. The quantitative content of TNF-α and IFN-γ in blood serum was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical processing was performed in program "STATISTICA for Windows 13" (StatSoft Inc., No. JPZ804I382130ARCN10-J).Results. A study of 175 measles patients found the frequency and spectrum of complications in adult patients depending on the severity of the disease and dynamics of TNF-α and IFN-γ level in blood serum. It is shown that frequency and range of complications in adult patients with measles depends on the severity of the disease. Patients with severe measles were more likely to develop complications from the respiratory system (p <0.01) due to the formation of pneumonia (p = 0.0001) and from the gastrointestinal tract with more frequent development of hepatitis (p = 0.0001) and enteritis (p = 0.0001), compared with moderate patients. In patients with severe measles, content of TNF-α in blood serum is the highest and exceeds both corresponding rate of healthy individuals (p <0.05) and measles patients with moderate course (p <0.05). Higher levels of TNF-α in the serum of measles patients during rash period are associated with severe course of the disease (p = 0.008). At the time of hospitalization of adult patients with measles during the rash IFN-γ content in the serum is higher (p <0.05) than in healthy individuals, both in patients with severe (p <0.05) and moderate course of measles (p <0.05). In the dynamics of IFN-γ content in the serum patients of both study groups decreases (p <0.05), compared with hospitalization, and at the time of discharge is not statistically different from that of healthy people (p> 0.05).Conclusions. Patients with severe measles compared with moderate measles patients more likely developed complications from respiratory system (p <0.01) and gastrointestinal system (p <0.01). In patients with severe measles, content of TNF-α in blood serum is highest that corresponding rate of healthy individuals (p <0.05) and patients with moderate course (p <0.05). At the hospitalization time during the rash IFN-γ content in the serum is higher (p <0,05) than in healthy individuals, both in patients with severe (p <0,05) and with moderate measles (p <0,05).
Effect of fat diet on essential fatty acid metabolism of neutral lipids in rat blood serum
Authors: Levitsky A. P. , Khodakov I. V. , Pupin T. I. , Markov A. V. , Selivanskaya I. A.
Published: June 2021

Aim. To determine the effect of dietary fats on the content and metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the fraction of neutral lipids blood serum.Methods. The effect of sunflower, high oleic sunflower (HOSO) and palm oils was studied when feeding rats with diets with 5 % fat for 30 days. Rats fed a fat-free diet (FFD) served as a control. The fatty acid composition of neutral blood serum lipids was determined by gas chromatography. The “activity” of fatty acid biosynthesis enzymes: elongase and desaturases was calculated from the ratio of the content of fatty acids.Results. A high content of PUFA was found in rats treated with FFD. Feeding rats with a diet with 5 % sunflower oil increased the total content of PUFAs with a slight decrease in the level of ω-3 PUFAs. Feeding rats with diets containing 5 % palm oil or HOSO did not affect the total content of PUFA, but increased the content of ω-3 PUFA. A very high "activity" of stearyl-CoA desaturase was found in rats fed FFD and fat diets. The consumption of HOSO inhibits the formation of arachidonic acid, while the consumption of palm oil enhances it.Conclusions. A high level of PUFA in neutral lipids in the blood serum of rats may indicate the presence of endogenous sources of PUFA. The optimal (for rats) consumption of dietary fats has a small effect on the content and metabolism of PUFA, with the exception of sunflower oil, the consumption of which significantly increases the ω-6/ω-3 PUFA ratio.
Assessment on society’s opinion about using psychological and psychiatric help
Authors: Zimnicki Patryk , Zawiślak Magdalena Kamila , Zaniuk Marcin , Kozłowska Marta , Kozyra Magdalena
Published: June 2021

To properly treat diseases related to the human psyche, the help of specialists in psychology or psychiatry is essential. Unfortunately, its use is often negatively perceived by society, which discourages people with mental disorders to use it. It was decided to examine the opinion of society on this issue. For this purpose, we used the original questionnaire " A Survey of public opinion on the use of psychological or psychiatric help", conducted among 238 people. The answers were statistically analyzed.The results of the questionnaire confirm the existence of the problem. In addition, more than 70% of the respondents believe that access to psychological or psychiatric help is not easy. Nearly 60% of the respondents criticized visits to a psychologist or psychiatrist, of which 37.9% were from people close to them. Only half of the respondents decided to use the help of a specialist, and 78% of them felt fear before the visit, associated with the diagnosis (33.6%), the ineffectiveness of therapy (25%), and the opinion of relatives (9.5%). Despite this, only 5.2% experienced a negative perception.The analysis of the literature indicates a large role of stigmatization of people with mental disorders as a factor influencing the occurrence of reluctance to seek help from psychologists or psychiatrists. The influence of gender and age on this state of affairs has also been noted.Increasing social awareness of the positive aspects of seeking help from psychologists or psychiatrists can significantly change public opinion on this issue. This can bring many benefits to people struggling with mental health problems, as well as reduce their fear of visiting a specialist.
Client-Related Factors and Collaboration Between Human Assets
Authors: Mawdsley John K. , Meyer-Doyle Philipp , Chatain Olivier
Published: June 2021

Collaborations between individuals in firms have important implications for the development of relational and human capital. In knowledge-intensive contexts where collaborations are formed to deliver services to clients, collaboration decisions can involve nontrivial tradeoffs between short-term and long-term benefits: individuals and firms must carefully manage the tradeoffs between leveraging existing relational and human capital for the reliable performance of repeat collaboration and creating new relational and human capital through new collaboration. Building from the premise that servicing clients is central to collaboration decisions in human asset–intensive firms, we examine how client-related factors shape collaboration decisions among lawyers (partners) in UK law firms providing M&A legal advisory services. We focus on three key client-related dimensions that we predict govern collaboration decisions: the depth of individual- and firm-level relationships with the focal client, key client attributes that reflect the client’s status and its use of different firms to undertake its outsourced work, and client-driven individual- and firm-level resource constraint. Our empirical findings support our proposition that client-related factors influence the pattern of collaborations between individuals in firms. We also reveal how client-related factors at the individual level can have opposite effects on collaboration decisions from those at the firm level. Overall, our findings contribute to research on relational capital, strategic human capital, team formation, professional service firms, and the microfoundations of strategy.
Chronic Onset Form of Anti-HMG-CoA Reductase Myopathy
Authors: Lorenzo Villalba Noel , Andrés Emmanuel , Meyer Alain
Published: June 2021

We report a case of anti-HMGCR myopathy mimicking limb-girdle muscular dystrophy in a 27-year-old male patient with no history of statin intake and presenting with a chronic onset form over 3 years. Treatment with prednisone and methotrexate was initiated with an insufficient response, so intravenous immunoglobulin was added. One year after initial treatment was started, as levels of creatine kinase (CK) were >1000 U/l, treatment with rituximab was added. Despite a 3-year delay before treatment, muscle strength improved even though CK levels remain elevated.
Alternative linear microgrid polarimeters: design, analysis, and demosaicing considerations
Authors: Ratliff Bradley M. , Sargent Garrett C.
Published: June 2021

Linear division of focal plane (DoFP), or integrated microgrid polarimeters, provide a measurement strategy for obtaining time-synchronized polarized intensity measurements across a scene. This is accomplished by masking pixels in the focal plane array sensor with a repeating pattern of different linear polarizers. The convention in industry has been to use a repeating

2
×
2

pattern of four linear polarizers with chosen polarizer orientation angles of

{
0
,
45
,
90
,
135

}
∘

. Alternative designs based upon other

P
×
Q

modulation patterns have been proposed that demonstrate improved performance over conventional microgrid arrays due to better utilization of bandwidth in the frequency domain. Here, we develop a model for linear DoFP snapshot polarimeters that provides an in-depth understanding of these devices in both the spatial and frequency domains and relate this model to previously reported generalized DoFP channeled polarimeter models. We then use the model to identify practical modulation patterns and study their performance through empirical simulations based upon data collected from real polarimeters. We demonstrate the validity of the developed model and compare the performance of the identified modulation schemes against a common set of ground truth images. We find that choosing alternative sets of polarizer angles, in conjunction with modulators that improve bandwidth usage, result in the best overall designs that can improve performance over conventional microgrid polarimeters.
Infrared small target energy distribution model for subpixel motion
Authors: Ma Tianlei , Wang Jiaqi , Ren Xiangyang , Yang Zhen , Ku Yanan
Published: June 2021

Dim small target detection is an important application of infrared (IR) searching and tracking systems. IR small target detection methods based on target energy information can accomplish a high detection rate and low false alarm rate. However, the general inaccuracy of target energy distribution models makes most detection algorithms ineffective. In this paper, considering the effect of a target’s subpixel motion on energy distribution, a new, to the best of our knowledge, IR small target energy distribution (NSTED) model for subpixel motion is proposed. The NSTED model can well describe energy distribution variation of a subpixel moving target. The simulation results demonstrate that NSTED has a better output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than state-of-the-art Gaussian and hyperbolic secant models. Compared with the two models, NSTED improves the output SNR by at least 17.9% and 20.7%, respectively.
Rapid, non-invasive measurement of gastric emptying rate using transcutaneous fluorescence spectroscopy
Authors: Lett Aaron M. , Lim Alexandra , Skinner Charlotte , Maurice James , Vergis Nikhil , Darzi Ara , Goldin Robert , Thursz Mark , Thompson Alex J.
Published: June 2021

Gastric emptying rate (GER) signifies the rate at which the stomach empties following ingestion of a meal and is relevant to a wide range of clinical conditions. GER also represents a rate limiting step in small intestinal absorption and so is widely assessed for research purposes. Despite the clinical and physiological importance of gastric emptying, methods used to measure GER possess a series of limitations (including being invasive, slow or unsuitable for certain patient populations). Here, we present a new technique based on transcutaneous (through-the-skin) fluorescence spectroscopy that is fast, non-invasive, and does not require the collection of samples or laboratory-based analysis. Thus, this approach has the potential to allow immediate reporting of clinical results. Using this new method, participants receive an oral dose of a fluorescent contrast agent and a wearable probe detects the uptake of the agent from the gut into the blood stream. Analysis of the resulting data then permits the calculation of GER. We compared our spectroscopic technique to the paracetamol absorption test (a clinically approved GER test) in a clinical study of 20 participants. Results demonstrated good agreement between the two approaches and, hence, the clear potential of transcutaneous fluorescence spectroscopy for clinical assessment of GER.
Generation of vector beams using synthetic phase holograms
Authors: Mellado-Villaseñor G. , Aguirre-Olivas D. , Arrizón V.
Published: June 2021

We discuss a class of synthetic phase holograms (SPHs) applied to the generation of vector fields. Each SPH encodes the transverse components of the vector field, modulated by different linear phase carriers. Such components, which are spatially separated by the carriers, are modulated by appropriate orthogonal polarizations. A final stage that makes the components collinear allows the generation of the vector field. We assess the efficiency and accuracy of the different SPHs, in the task of generating vector fields. The proposal is illustrated by the implementation of vector Bessel beams, which are experimentally generated in a setup based on a phase spatial light modulator.
Fibre optic parametric amplifier for high capacity burst-mode access networks
Authors: Gaur Chandra B. , Gordienko Vladimir , Ferreira Filipe , Ribeiro Vitor , Doran Nick J.
Published: June 2021

We compare performance of a polarization insensitive fiber optic parametric amplifier (PI-FOPA), a commercial erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) and a discrete Raman amplifier (DRA) in a 50 km long-reach optical access network transmitting bursts of 10 Gbps signal with traffic density ranged from 5% to 97%. We demonstrate that for the same power budget the PI-FOPA allows for transmission of bursty traffic with density up to 97% while DRA and EDFA are limited to 30% and 15%, respectively. Alternatively, we demonstrate PI-FOPA to allow for 3 dB and 5 dB higher power budget than the DRA and EDFA, respectively, for the worst case scenario of 75% traffic density.
Direct measurement of ultrafast temporal wavefunctions
Authors: Ogawa Kazuhisa , Okazaki Takumi , Kobayashi Hirokazu , Nakanishi Toshihiro , Tomita Akihisa
Published: June 2021

The large capacity and robustness of information encoding in the temporal mode of photons is important in quantum information processing, in which characterizing temporal quantum states with high usability and time resolution is essential. We propose and demonstrate a direct measurement method of temporal complex wavefunctions for weak light at a single-photon level with subpicosecond time resolution. Our direct measurement is realized by ultrafast metrology of the interference between the light under test and self-generated monochromatic reference light; no external reference light or complicated post-processing algorithms are required. Hence, this method is versatile and potentially widely applicable for temporal state characterization.
Geometric modeling of attitude jitter for three-line-array imaging satellites
Authors: Liu Shijie , Tong Xiaohua , Li Lingyun , Ye Zhen , Lin Feng , Zhang Han , Jin Yanmin , Xie Huan
Published: June 2021

Attitude jitter causes image motion and degrades geometric accuracy of high-resolution satellite images. This work studies the mechanism of the attitude jitter effect on the imaging geometry of three-line-array push-broom sensors onboard satellites, which is a typical configuration used for topographic mapping. Based on a rigorous physical imaging model, we derived quantitative models of the geometric effect of attitude jitter in the roll, pitch, and yaw angles on the image distortions of the forward, nadir, and backward view sensors, and the accuracy of the derived models is validated through comprehensive experiments and analyses. The experimental results reveal the following. First, the attitude jitter in the roll angle dominates the cross-track image deviation; it does not affect the along-track geometry of the nadir-view sensor but marginally affects the off-nadir-view sensors, and the image distortions share a linear relationship with the image column coordinates. Second, the attitude jitter in the pitch angle dominates the along-track image deviation, and the image distortions in the off-nadir-view images are relatively larger than those in the nadir-view images. The attitude jitter in the pitch angle does not affect the cross-track geometry of the nadir-view sensor but marginally affects the off-nadir-view sensors, and the image distortions share a linear relationship with the image column coordinates. Finally, the attitude jitter in the yaw angle mainly causes the cross-track image deviation in the off-nadir-view sensors, and the along-track image geometries of all the three view sensors are marginally affected to the same extent by the yaw angle variation.
On-chip four-mode (de-)multiplexer on thin film lithium niobate–silicon rich nitride hybrid platform
Authors: Liu Yang , Huang Xingrui , Li Zezheng , Guan Huan , Yu Zhiguo , Wei Qingquan , Fan Zhongchao , Han Weihua , Li Zhiyong
Published: June 2021

A four-mode (de-)multiplexer with transverse electric field light (

T
E

0

−

T
E

3

) is experimentally demonstrated on a thin film lithium niobate–silicon rich nitride hybrid platform. Enabled by cascaded asymmetrical directional couplers, a (de-)multiplexer with low insertion loss (0.38 dB to 1.6 dB) and low cross talk (

−

18.46

d
B

to

−

20.43

d
B

) is obtained at 1550 nm. All channels have cross talk

<

−

16

d
B

from 1480 nm to 1580 nm. The transmission of

4
×
50

Gbps on–off keying signals is experimentally achieved on the proposed (de-)multiplexer. Experimental results show that the proposed (de-)multiplexer is a promising approach to enhance the transmission capacity in thin film lithium niobate based photonics integrated circuits.
CytoPy: An autonomous cytometry analysis framework
Authors: Burton Ross J. , Ahmed Raya , Cuff Simone M. , Baker Sarah , Artemiou Andreas , Eberl Matthias
Published: June 2021

Cytometry analysis has seen a considerable expansion in recent years in the maximum number of parameters that can be acquired in a single experiment. In response to this technological advance there has been an increased effort to develop new computational methodologies for handling high-dimensional single cell data acquired by flow or mass cytometry. Despite the success of numerous algorithms and published packages to replicate and outperform traditional manual analysis, widespread adoption of these techniques has yet to be realised in the field of immunology. Here we present CytoPy, a Python framework for automated analysis of cytometry data that integrates a document-based database for a data-centric and iterative analytical environment. In addition, our algorithm-agnostic design provides a platform for open-source cytometry bioinformatics in the Python ecosystem. We demonstrate the ability of CytoPy to phenotype T cell subsets in whole blood samples even in the presence of significant batch effects due to technical and user variation. The complete analytical pipeline was then used to immunophenotype the local inflammatory infiltrate in individuals with and without acute bacterial infection. CytoPy is open-source and licensed under the MIT license. CytoPy is available athttps://github.com/burtonrj/CytoPy, with notebooks accompanying this manuscript (https://github.com/burtonrj/CytoPyManuscript) and software documentation athttps://cytopy.readthedocs.io/.
Mechanism of collagen folding propagation studied by Molecular Dynamics simulations
Authors: Hartmann Julian , Zacharias Martin
Published: June 2021

Collagen forms a characteristic triple helical structure and plays a central role for stabilizing the extra-cellular matrix. After a C-terminal nucleus formation folding proceeds to form long triple-helical fibers. The molecular details of triple helix folding process is of central importance for an understanding of several human diseases associated with misfolded or unstable collagen fibrils. However, the folding propagation is too rapid to be studied by experimental high resolution techniques. We employed multiple Molecular Dynamics simulations starting from unfolded peptides with an already formed nucleus to successfully follow the folding propagation in atomic detail. The triple helix folding was found to propagate involving first two chains forming a short transient template. Secondly, three residues of the third chain fold on this template with an overall mean propagation of ~75 ns per unit. The formation of loops with multiples of the repeating unit was found as a characteristic misfolding event especially when starting from an unstable nucleus. Central Gly→Ala or Gly→Thr substitutions resulted in reduced stability and folding rates due to structural deformations interfering with folding propagation.
Social status and previous experience in the group as predictors of welfare of sows housed in large semi-static groups
Authors: Brajon Sophie , Ahloy-Dallaire Jamie , Devillers Nicolas , Guay Frédéric
Published: June 2021

Mixing gestating sows implies hierarchy formation and has detrimental consequences on welfare. The effects of social stress on the most vulnerable individuals may be underestimated and it is therefore important to evaluate welfare between individuals within groups. This study aimed at investigating the impact of social status and previous experience in the group on well-being of sows housed in large semi-static groups. We assessed aggression (d0 (mixing), d2, d27, d29), body lesions (d1, d26, d84) and feeding order on 20 groups of 46–91 animals. Social status was based on the proportion of fights won during a 6-hr observation period between d0 and d2. Dominants (29%) were those who won more fights than they lost, Subdominants (25%) won fewer fights than they lost, Losers (23%) never won any fight in which they were involved while Avoiders (23%) were never involved in fights. Resident sows (70%) were already present in the group in the previous gestation while New sows (30%) were newly introduced at mixing. Subdominants and Dominants were highly involved in fights around mixing but this was more detrimental for Subdominants than Dominants, Losers and Avoiders since they had the highest body lesion scores at mixing. Avoiders received less non-reciprocal agonistic acts than Losers on d2 (P= 0.0001) and had the lowest body lesion scores after mixing. However, Avoiders and Losers were more at risk in the long-term since they had the highest body lesions scores at d26 and d84. They were followed by Subdominants and then Dominants. New sows fought more (P<0.0001), tended to be involved in longer fights (P= 0.075) around mixing and had more body lesions throughout gestation than Resident sows. Feeding order from one-month post-mixing was influenced both by the previous experience in the group and social status (P<0.0001). New sows, especially with a low social status, are more vulnerable throughout gestation and could serve as indicators of non-optimal conditions.
Potential G-quadruplexes and i-Motifs in the SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Belmonte-Reche Efres , Serrano-Chacón Israel , Gonzalez Carlos , Gallo Juan , Bañobre-López Manuel
Published: June 2021

Quadruplex structures have been identified in a plethora of organisms where they play important functions in the regulation of molecular processes, and hence have been proposed as therapeutic targets for many diseases. In this paper we report the extensive bioinformatic analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 genome and related viruses using an upgraded version of the open-source algorithm G4-iM Grinder. This version improves the functionality of the software, including an easy way to determine the potential biological features affected by the candidates found. The quadruplex definitions of the algorithm were optimized for SARS-CoV-2. Using a lax quadruplex definition ruleset, which accepts amongst other parameters two residue G- and C-tracks, 512 potential quadruplex candidates were discovered. These sequences were evaluated by their in vitro formation probability, their position in the viral RNA, their uniqueness and their conservation rates (calculated in over seventeen thousand different COVID-19 clinical cases and sequenced at different times and locations during the ongoing pandemic). These results were then compared subsequently to other Coronaviridae members, other Group IV (+)ssRNA viruses and the entire viral realm. Sequences found in common with other viral species were further analyzed and characterized. Sequences with high scores unique to the SARS-CoV-2 were studied to investigate the variations amongst similar species. Quadruplex formation of the best candidates were then confirmed experimentally. Using NMR and CD spectroscopy, we found several highly stable RNA quadruplexes that may be suitable therapeutic targets for the SARS-CoV-2.
Optimization of light exposure and sleep schedule for circadian rhythm entrainment
Authors: Yin Jiawei , Julius A. Agung , Wen John T.
Published: June 2021

The circadian rhythm, called Process C, regulates a wide range of biological processes in humans including sleep, metabolism, body temperature, and hormone secretion. Light is the dominant synchronizer of the circadian rhythm—it has been used to regulate the circadian phase to cope with jet-lag, shift work, and sleep disorder. The homeostatic oscillation of the sleep drive is called Process S. Process C and Process S together determine the sleep-wake cycle in what is known as the two-process model. This paper addresses the regulation of both Process C and Process S by scheduling light exposure and sleep based on numerical simulations of circadian rhythm and sleep mathematical models. This is a significant step beyond the existing literature that only considers the entrainment of Process C. Regulation of the two-process model poses several unique features and challenges: 1. Process S is non-smooth, i.e., the homeostatic dynamics are different in the sleep and wake regimes; 2. Light only indirectly affects Process S through Process C; 3. Light does not affect Process C during sleep. We consider two scenarios: optimizing light intensity as the control input with spontaneous (i.e., unscheduled) sleep/wake times and jointly optimizing the light intensity and the sleep/wake times, which allows limited delayed sleep and early waking as part of the decision variables. We solve the time-optimal entrainment problem for the two-process model for both scenarios using an extension of the gradient descent algorithm to non-smooth systems. To illustrate the efficacy of our time-optimal entrainment strategies, we consider two common use cases: transmeridian travelers and shift workers. For transmeridian travelers, joint optimization of the two-process model avoids the unrealistic long wake duration when only Process C is considered. The entrainment time also decreases when both the light input and the sleep schedule are optimized compared to when only the light input is optimized. For shift workers, we show that the entrainment time is significantly shortened by optimizing the night shift working light.
Effect of mupirocin for Staphylococcus aureus decolonization on the microbiome of the nose and throat in community and nursing home dwelling adults
Authors: Roghmann Mary-Claire , Lydecker Alison D. , Shardell Michelle , DeBoy Robert T. , Johnson J. Kristie , Zhao LiCheng , Hittle Lauren L. , Mongodin Emmanuel F.
Published: June 2021

Objective

To characterize the microbial communities of the anterior nares (nose) and posterior pharynx (throat) of adults dwelling in the community and in nursing homes before and after treatment with intranasal mupirocin.

Methods

Staphylococcus aureus-colonized adults were recruited from the community (n = 25) and from nursing homes (n = 7). S. aureus colonization was confirmed using cultures. Participants had specimens taken from nose and throat for S. aureus quantitation using quantitative PCR for the nuc gene and bacterial profiling using 16S rRNA gene sequencing over 12 weeks. After two baseline study visits 4 weeks apart, participants received intranasal mupirocin for 5 days with 3 further visits over a 8 week follow-up period.

Results

We found a decrease in the absolute abundance of S. aureus in the nose for 8 weeks after mupirocin (1693 vs 141 fg/ul, p = 0.047). Mupirocin caused a statistically significant disruption in bacterial communities of the nose and throat after 1 week, which was no longer detected after 8 weeks. Bacterial community profiling demonstrated that there was a decrease in the relative abundance of S. aureus (8% vs 0.3%, p<0.01) 8 weeks after mupirocin and a transient decrease in the relative abundance of Staphylococcus epidermidis in the nose (21% vs 5%, p<0.01) 1 week after mupirocin.

Conclusions

Decolonization with mupirocin leads to a sustained effect on absolute and relative abundance of S. aureus but not for other bacteria in the nose. This demonstrates that a short course of mupirocin selectively decreases S. aureus in the nose for up to 8 weeks.
Age-related changes in diffuse optical tomography sensitivity profiles in infancy
Authors: Fu Xiaoxue , Richards John E.
Published: June 2021

Diffuse optical tomography uses near-infrared light spectroscopy to measure changes in cerebral hemoglobin concentration. Anatomical interpretations of the location that generates the hemodynamic signal requires accurate descriptions of diffuse optical tomography sensitivity to the underlying cortical structures. Such information is limited for pediatric populations because they undergo rapid head and brain development. The present study used photon propagation simulation methods to examine diffuse optical tomography sensitivity profiles in realistic head models among infants ranging from 2 weeks to 24 months with narrow age bins, children (4 and 12 years) and adults (20 to 24 years). The sensitivity profiles changed systematically with the source-detector separation distance. The peak of the sensitivity function in the head was largest at the smallest separation distance and decreased as separation distance increased. The fluence value dissipated more quickly with sampling depth at the shorter source-detector separations than the longer separation distances. There were age-related differences in the shape and variance of sensitivity profiles across a wide range of source-detector separation distances. Our findings have important implications in the design of sensor placement and diffuse optical tomography image reconstruction in (functional) near-infrared light spectroscopy research. Age-appropriate realistic head models should be used to provide anatomical guidance for standalone near-infrared light spectroscopy data in infants.
Adenosine/TGFβ axis in regulation of mammary fibroblast functions
Authors: Vasiukov Georgii , Menshikh Anna , Owens Philip , Novitskaya Tatiana , Hurley Paula , Blackwell Timothy , Feoktistov Igor , Novitskiy Sergey V.
Published: June 2021

Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF) play a key role in cancer progression and metastasis. Diminished TGFβ response on CAF correlates with poor outcome and recurrence in cancer patients. Mechanisms behind lost TGFβ signaling on CAF are poorly understood, but, utilizing MMTV-PyMT mouse model, we have previously demonstrated that in tumor microenvironment myeloid cells, producing adenosine, contribute to downregulated TGFβ signaling on CAFs. In the current work, we performed serial in vitro studies to investigate the role of adenosine/TGFβ axis in mouse mammary fibroblast functions, i.e., proliferation, protein expression, migration, and contractility. We found that adenosine analog NECA diminished TGFβ-induced CCL5 and MMP9 expression. Additionally, we discovered that NECA completely inhibited effect of TGFβ to upregulate αSMA, key protein of cytoskeletal rearrangements, necessary for migration and contractility of fibroblasts. Our results show that TGFβ increases contractility of mouse mammary fibroblasts and human fibroblast cell lines, and NECA attenuates theses effects. Using pharmacological approach and genetically modified animals, we determined that NECA effects on TGFβ pathway occur via A2A/A2B adenosine receptor—AC—PKA dependent manner. Using isolated CD11b+ cells from tumor tissue of CD73-KO and CD39-KO animals in co-culture experiments with ATP and AMP, we confirmed that myeloid cells can affect functions of mammary fibroblasts through adenosine signaling. Our data suggest a novel mechanism of interaction between adenosine and TGFβ signaling pathways that can impact phenotype of fibroblasts in a tumor microenvironment.
Severe COVID-19 pneumonia: Perfusion analysis in correlation with pulmonary embolism and vessel enlargement using dual-energy CT data
Authors: Poschenrieder Florian , Meiler Stefanie , Lubnow Matthias , Zeman Florian , Rennert Janine , Scharf Gregor , Schaible Jan , Stroszczynski Christian , Pfeifer Michael , Hamer Okka W.
Published: June 2021

Background

Gas exchange in COVID-19 pneumonia is impaired and vessel obstruction has been suspected to cause ventilation-perfusion mismatch. Dual-energy CT (DECT) can depict pulmonary perfusion by regional assessment of iodine uptake.

Objective

The purpose of this study was the analysis of pulmonary perfusion using dual-energy CT in a cohort of 27 consecutive patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

Method

We retrospectively analyzed pulmonary perfusion with DECT in 27 consecutive patients (mean age 57 years, range 21–73; 19 men and 8 women) with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Iodine uptake (IU) in regions-of-interest placed into normally aerated lung, ground-glass opacifications (GGO) and consolidations was measured using a dedicated postprocessing software. Vessel enlargement (VE) within opacifications and presence of pulmonary embolism (PE) was assessed by subjective analysis. Linear mixed models were used for statistical analyses.

Results

Compared to normally aerated lung 106/151 (70.2%) opacifications without upstream PE demonstrated an increased IU, 9/151 (6.0%) an equal IU and 36/151 (23.8%) a decreased IU. The estimated mean iodine uptake (EMIU) in opacifications without upstream PE (GGO 1.77 mg/mL; 95%-CI: 1.52–2.02; p = 0.011, consolidations 1.82 mg/mL; 95%-CI: 1.56–2.08, p = 0.006) was significantly higher compared to normal lung (1.22 mg/mL; 95%-CI: 0.95–1.49). In case of upstream PE, EMIU of opacifications (combined GGO and consolidations) was significantly decreased compared to normal lung (0.52 mg/mL; 95%-CI: -0.07–1.12; p = 0.043). The presence of VE in opacifications correlated significantly with iodine uptake (p<0.001).

Conclusions

DECT revealed the opacifications in a subset of patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia to be perfused non-uniformly with some being hypo- and others being hyperperfused. Mean iodine uptake in opacifications (both ground-glass and consolidation) was higher compared to normally aerated lung except for areas with upstream pulmonary embolism. Vessel enlargement correlated with iodine uptake: In summary, in a cohort of 27 consecutive patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, dual-energy CT demonstrated a wide range of iodine uptake in pulmonary ground-glass opacifications and consolidations as a surrogate marker for hypo- and hyperperfusion compared to normally aerated lung. Applying DECT to determine which pathophysiology is predominant might help to tailor therapy to the individual patient´s needs.
A bio-inspired bistable recurrent cell allows for long-lasting memory
Authors: Vecoven Nicolas , Ernst Damien , Drion Guillaume
Published: June 2021

Recurrent neural networks (RNNs) provide state-of-the-art performances in a wide variety of tasks that require memory. These performances can often be achieved thanks to gated recurrent cells such as gated recurrent units (GRU) and long short-term memory (LSTM). Standard gated cells share a layer internal state to store information at the network level, and long term memory is shaped by network-wide recurrent connection weights. Biological neurons on the other hand are capable of holding information at the cellular level for an arbitrary long amount of time through a process called bistability. Through bistability, cells can stabilize to different stable states depending on their own past state and inputs, which permits the durable storing of past information in neuron state. In this work, we take inspiration from biological neuron bistability to embed RNNs with long-lasting memory at the cellular level. This leads to the introduction of a new bistable biologically-inspired recurrent cell that is shown to strongly improves RNN performance on time-series which require very long memory, despite using only cellular connections (all recurrent connections are from neurons to themselves, i.e. a neuron state is not influenced by the state of other neurons). Furthermore, equipping this cell with recurrent neuromodulation permits to link them to standard GRU cells, taking a step towards the biological plausibility of GRU. With this link, this work paves the way for studying more complex and biologically plausible neuromodulation schemes as gating mechanisms in RNNs.
Investigation of lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network in ETV6-RUNX1-positive pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Yu Weijuan , Wang Weihua , Yu Xiumei
Published: June 2021

ETV6/RUNX1 gene fusion is the most common chromosomal translocation abnormality occurred in pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Compared with ETV6-RUNX1-negative patients, ETV6-RUNX1-positive patients possess more improved treatment strategies but higher risk to relapse. In this research, the potential gene interaction networks were constructed intending for elucidating the pathogenesis of B-ALL. We performed the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to assess the involvement of lncRNA-mRNA pairs in B-ALL patients consisting of 24 ETV6-RUNX1-positive patients and 18 ETV6-RUNX1-negative patients and found a module that was significantly associated with positive/negative trait. Gene Ontology analysis showed that mRNAs in this module were enriched in the positive regulation of MAPK cascade, positive regulation of JNK cascade, and myeloid cell differentiation pathway. To further investigate the relationship between lncRNAs and mRNAs in this significant module, we constructed the lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network. 3 lncRNAs (RP11-170J3.2, RP11-135F9.1 and RP1-151B14.9) were found at the core of the lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network, which had the most co-expression connections with mRNAs. And several related mRNAs (ACTN1, TNFRSF21 and NLRP3) had a significant correlation with the patient survival prediction. Our findings may explicate the pathogenesis of B-ALL, and the disease-associated genes could provide clues to find novel biomarkers for prognosis.
Low educational level increases functional disability risk subsequent to heart failure in Japan: On behalf of the Iwate KENCO study group
Authors: Takahashi Shuko , Tanno Kozo , Yonekura Yuki , Ohsawa Masaki , Kuribayashi Toru , Ishibashi Yasuhiro , Omama Shinichi , Tanaka Fumitaka , Onoda Toshiyuki , Sakata Kiyomi , Koshiyama Makoto , Itai Kazuyoshi , Okayama Akira
Published: June 2021

Objectives

The risk factors that contribute to future functional disability after heart failure (HF) are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine potential risk factors to future functional disability after HF in the general older adult population in Japan.

Methods

The subjects who were community-dwelling older adults aged 65 or older without a history of cardiovascular diseases and functional disability were followed in this prospective study for 11 years. Two case groups were determined from the 4,644 subjects: no long-term care insurance (LTCI) after HF (n = 52) and LTCI after HF (n = 44). We selected the controls by randomly matching each case of HF with three of the remaining 4,548 subjects who were event-free during the period: those with no LTCI and no HF with age +/-1 years and of the same sex, control for the no LTCI after HF group (n = 156), and control for the LTCI after HF group (n = 132). HF was diagnosed according to the Framingham diagnostic criteria. Individuals with a functional disability were those who had been newly certified by the LTCI during the observation period. Objective data including blood samples and several socioeconomic items in the baseline survey were assessed using a self-reported questionnaire.

Results

Significantly associated risk factors were lower educational levels (odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 3.72 [1.63–8.48]) in the LTCI after HF group and hypertension (2.20 [1.10–4.43]) in no LTCI after HF group. Regular alcohol consumption and unmarried status were marginally significantly associated with LTCI after HF (OR [95% CI]; drinker = 2.69 [0.95–7.66]; P = 0.063; unmarried status = 2.54 [0.91–7.15]; P = 0.076).

Conclusion

Preventive measures must be taken to protect older adults with unfavorable social factors from disability after HF via a multidisciplinary approach.
A break from the pups: The effects of loft access on the welfare of lactating laboratory rats
Authors: Ratuski Anna S. , Weary Daniel M.
Published: June 2021

Rats (Rattus norvegicus) bred for research are typically confined with their litters until weaning, but will spend time away from pups when given the opportunity. We aimed to assess how dam welfare is affected by the ability to escape from their pups. Rat dams (n = 16) were housed in cages either with or without an elevated loft. We measured time dams spent in lofts, time spent nursing, and affective states using elevated plus maze and anticipatory behavior testing. We predicted that 1) dams housed with lofts would use them increasingly as pups aged, 2) dams without a loft would spend more time passively nursing (i.e. initiated by pups rather than the dam) and more total time nursing as pups aged, and 3) dams housed with lofts would show evidence of a more positive affective state. Dams housed with lofts spent more time in the loft with increasing pup age; dams spent on average (mean ± SE) 27 ± 5% of their time in the loft when pups were 1 wk old, increasing to 52 ± 5% of their time at 3 wks. When pups were 3 wks old, dams with lofts spent less time passively nursing (10 ± 2% of total time, compared to 27 ± 4% for dams without a loft) and less time nursing overall (36 ± 4% of time versus 59 ± 2% for dams without a loft). Rats without loft access showed increased anticipatory behavior potentially indicative of negative affective state (24.5±1.8 behaviors per minute in wk 3 compared to 18.8±1.0 in wk 1). These findings indicate that rat dams in laboratories choose to spend time away from their pups when provided the opportunity, particularly later in lactation; an inability to do so is associated with increased passive nursing and negative affect.
Caregiver-reported health-related quality of life of New Zealand children born very and extremely preterm
Authors: Liu Gordon X. H. , Harding Jane E. ,   for the PIANO Study Team
Published: June 2021

Background

Children born preterm, particularly at earlier gestations, are at increased risk for mortality and morbidity, but later health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is less well described. Neurodevelopmental impairment and socio-economic status may also influence HRQoL. Our aim was to describe the HRQoL of a cohort of New Zealand children born very and extremely preterm, and how this is related to neurodevelopmental impairment, gestational age, and socio-economic deprivation.

Methods

Children born <30 weeks’ gestation or <1500 g birthweight were assessed at 7 years’ corrected age. Caregivers completed the Child Health Questionnaire Parent Form (CHQ-PF50), and the Health Utilities Index Mark 2 (HUI-2). Neurodevelopmental impairment was defined as Wechsler full scale intelligence quotient below -1 standard deviation (SD), Movement Assessment Battery for Children total score ≤15 percentile, cerebral palsy, deafness, or blindness.

Results

Data were collected for 127 children, of whom 60 (47%) had neurodevelopmental impairment. Overall, HRQoL was good: mean (SD) CHQ-PF50 physical summary score = 50.8 (11.1), psychosocial summary score = 49.3 (9.1) [normative mean 50 (10)]; HUI-2 dead-healthy scale = 0.92 (0.09) [maximum 1.0]. Neurodevelopmental impairment, lower gestational age, and higher socio-economic deprivation were all associated with reduced HRQoL. However, on multivariable analysis, only intelligence quotient and motor function were associated with psychosocial HRQoL, while intelligence quotient was associated with physical HRQoL.

Conclusions

Most seven-year-old children born very and extremely preterm have good HRQoL. Further improvements will require reduced neurodevelopmental impairment.