bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
John Evelyn’s Translation of the Dies irae
Authors: Gillespie Stuart
Published: March 2023

In a letter to Evelyn of 1656, Jeremy Taylor asked him if he would attempt a translation of the medieval hymn the Dies irae. Along with many of Evelyn's other unprinted poems and translations the outcome was lost to view until a very recent date, and is here printed, as far as is known, for the first time. The work is placed in the context of the hymn's wider translation history, and texts of two further seventeenth-century manuscript translations are provided for comparison.
Antimycotic Potential Assessment of Trichoderma Species and Fungicides for Sustainable Management of Sclerotinia trifoliorum causing Stem and Crown Rot of Trifolium alexandrinum L.
Authors: Faraz Anjum , Haq Imran Ul , Ijaz Siddra , Sahi Shahbaz T. , Khan Imran
Published: March 2023

Sclerotinia trifoliorum, the fungal plant pathogen first reported in 2021 from Pakistan on Trifolium alexandrinum L. (Egyptian clover; an annual winter fodder crop), causing Stem and crown rot disease. About 46% to 55% incidence of this disease was recorded on E. clover cultivated in the irrigated tract of the country in 2018-19. This disease is subjecting significant crop losses and drastically reducing growth. An integrated disease management approach employing biological and chemical control was adopted to manage this wide-spreading fungal pathogen. The fungal antagonists, including Trichoderma harzianum, T. longibrachiatum, and T. asperellum Moreover, fungicides, including Thiophanate Methyl, Tebuconazole, Tubeconazole+Emdachloprid, Chlorothalonil+cymoxanil, Azoxystrobin, Pyraclostrobin+Metiram, and Mancozeb+Metalaxyl were tested under in vitro and field conditions. Among Trichoderma species, the best response was achieved by T. harzianum with 80.61% inhibition compared to control. Among concentrations of T. harzianum, the best response was achieved on 1/10 (1.24 cm) with 2.4 average No. of Sclerotia and 66% inhibition. Under filed condition experiments, the data regarding Disease severity in T. harzianum treated trays was 51.7% compared to untreated/control 73.5%. Besides disease control, the application of T. harzianum showed a significant increase in green and dry fodder weight (851 grams with 87 grams of dry weight) than untreated/control (561 grams with 55 grams of dry weight) in the fourth cut. For chemical evaluation, seven fungicides tested at three concentrations under in vitro trials among these Thiophanate methyl (0.5 cm) with 90.7% inhibition were found more effective. Thiophanate Methyl's application significantly reduced the disease severity compared to control plants with disease severity in fungicide-treated trays was 28.7% compared to untreated/control 73.5% and significant increase green and dry fodder weight (931 grams with 92 grams of dry weight) than untreated/control (561 grams with 55 grams of dry weight) in the fourth cut.
Effect of Sowing Times and Rice Varietal Resistance on the Severity of Narrow Brown Leaf Spot Disease in Relation to Environmental Conditions
Authors: Iqbal Muhammad , Javed Nazir , Shahid Muhammad , Ali Safdar , Arshad Muhammad
Published: March 2023

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of sowing times and genetic resistance of 10 commercially important rice varieties on the percent disease severity (PDS) of narrow brown leaf spot (NBLS) caused by Cercospora oryzae. Two sowing time treatments (mid-May and mid-June) each year were evaluated for this 2-year study. Rice varieties were drill seeded and arranged in randomized complete block designed plots with four replications for each variety. The effects of environmental factors (high and low temperature, relative humidity and precipitation) on the NBLS severity of the rice varieties at both sowing times were also evaluated. Disease data was analyzed using computer software GenStat 10th edition. Results: By changing cultivation timing of rice varieties, B-Chenab, KSK-434, PK-386, B-Kissan, and KSK-133 from mid-May to mid-June, their resistance levels were also changed from a higher to a lower. Weather conditions during the mid-June cultivation of 2019 induced a higher level of disease severity than did the mid-May weather conditions of 2018. The variation in temperatures affected the percent disease severity more as compared to relative humidity and precipitation. High temperature of 31-33˚C and low temperature of 18-21˚C were found to be most effective in enhancing the NBLS development. Minimum NBLS severity 4.75% and 8.25% was noted on variety B-515 in mid-May and mid-June sowings respectively. Thus, its rating changed from resistant to mildly susceptible by changing sowing timing. Rice variety PK-1121 depicted maximum NBLS severity 60.25 % in mid-May sowings, rated as very highly susceptible, while severity increased to 79.25% in mid-June sowings, and rated as completely susceptible. It is concluded that the severity of NBLS was affected by genetic resistance level of rice varieties, sowing times and weather conditions thus consideration of these factors is the key to the integrated management of the NBLS in rice.
The dual role of autophagy in periprosthetic osteolysis
Authors: Yin Zhaoyang , Gong Ge , Wang Xiang , Liu Wei , Wang Bin , Yin Jian
Published: March 2023

Periprosthetic osteolysis (PPO) induced by wear particles is an important cause of aseptic loosening after artificial joint replacement, among which the imbalance of osteogenesis and osteoclastic processes occupies a central position. The cells involved in PPO mainly include osteoclasts (macrophages), osteoblasts, osteocytes, and fibroblasts. RANKL/RANK/OGP axis is a typical way for osteolysis. Autophagy, a mode of regulatory cell death and maintenance of cellular homeostasis, has a dual role in PPO. Although autophagy is activated in various periprosthetic cells and regulates the release of inflammatory cytokines, osteoclast activation, and osteoblast differentiation, its beneficial or detrimental role remains controversy. In particular, differences in the temporal control and intensity of autophagy may have different effects. This article focuses on the role of autophagy in PPO, and expects the regulation of autophagy to become a powerful target for clinical treatment of PPO.
A logical framework for net-zero climate action
Authors: Elliott Cynthia , Schumer Clea , Ross Katie , Gasper Rebecca , Singh Neelam
Published: March 2023

Momentum for national net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) commitments is growing quickly. Nonetheless, there are justifiable concerns over their credibility. And as no country has fully decarbonized yet, it is difficult to determine whether current efforts are likely to trigger the scale of transformation required for achieving net zero. Yet it will be too late if we wait until mid-century to assess whether we have achieved this global benchmark. As nations enhance near-term action to reach their climate goals, it is critically important that we utilize stronger methods for planning and tracking real progress toward net zero. We need a framework to examine national climate action that can help hold governments accountable to their net-zero targets in real time and provide confidence to the international community that governments are making adequate efforts to radically reduce GHG emissions. This paper offers the authors' perspective on what might be an initial approach for reviewing net-zero target implementation and provides recommendations for how to qualitatively assess or evaluate national governments' net zero efforts along with suggestions for further research and study.
Flow dynamic assessment of native mitral valve, mitral valve repair and mitral valve replacement using vector flow mapping intracardiac flow dynamic in mitral valve regurgitation
Authors: Pugliese Nicola Riccardo , Colli Andrea , Falcetta Giosuè , Del Punta Lavinia , Puccinelli Carlo , Fiocco Alessandro , Petronio Anna Sonia , Taddei Stefano , Masi Stefano , Besola Laura
Published: March 2023

Objectives

The present study aims to assess and describe the intracardiac blood flow dynamic in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR), repaired mitral valves (MV) and mitral valve prostheses using vector flow mapping (VFM).

Methods

Patients with different MV pathologies and MV disease treatments were analysed. All patients underwent 2D transthoracic echocardiography, and images for flow visualization were acquired in VFM mode in an apical three-chamber view and four-chamber view. Vectors and vortices were qualitatively analyzed.

Results

thirty-two (32) patients underwent 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with VFM analysis. We evaluated intracardiac flow dynamics in 3 healthy subjects, 10 patients with MR (5 degenerative, 5 functional), 4 patients who underwent MV repair, 5 who underwent MV replacement (3 biological, 2 mechanical), 2 surgically implanted transcatheter heart valve (THV), 2 transcatheter edge-to-edge MV repair with MitraClip (TEER), 3 transcatheter MV replacement (TMVR) and 3 transapical off-pump MV repair with NeoChord implantation. Blood flow patterns are significantly altered in patients with MV disease and MV repair compared to control patients. MV repair is superior to replacement in restoring more physiologicalpatterns, while TMVR reproducesan intraventricular flowcloser to normal than surgical MVR and TEER.

Conclusions

Intracardiac flow patterns can be clearly defined using VFM. Restoration of a physiological blood flow pattern inside the LV directly depends on the procedure used to address MV disease.
Risk factors assessment and a Bayesian network model for predicting ischemic stroke in patients with cardiac myxoma
Authors: Ma Lin , Cai Bin , Qiao Man-Li , Fan Ze-Xin , Fang Li-Bo , Wang Chao-Bin , Liu Guang-Zhi
Published: March 2023

Objective

This study aims to identify relevant risk factors, assess the interactions between variables, and establish a predictive model for ischemic stroke (IS) in patients with cardiac myxoma (CM) using the Bayesian network (BN) approach.

Methods

Data of patients with CM were collected from three tertiary comprehensive hospitals in Beijing from January 2002 to January 2022. Age, sex, medical history, and information related to CM were extracted from the electronic medical record system. The BN model was constructed using the tabu search algorithm, and the conditional probability of each node was calculated using the maximum likelihood estimation method. The probability of each node of the network and the interrelationship between IS and its related factors were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was also plotted. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) values were calculated and compared between the BN and logistic regression models to evaluate the efficiency of the predictive model.

Results

A total of 416 patients with CM were enrolled in this study, including 61 with and 355 without IS. The BN model found that cardiac symptoms, systemic embolic symptoms, platelet counts, and tumor with high mobility were directly associated with the occurrence of IS in patients with CM. The BN model for predicting CM-IS achieved higher scores on AUC {0.706 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.639–0.773]} vs. [0.697 (95% CI, 0.629–0.766)] and sensitivity (99.44% vs. 98.87%), but lower scores on accuracies (85.82% vs. 86.06%) and specificity (6.56% vs. 11.48%) than the logistic regression model.

Conclusion

Cardiac symptoms, systemic embolic symptoms, platelet counts, and tumor with high mobility are candidate predictors of IS in patients with CM. The BN model was superior or at least non-inferior to the traditional logistic regression model, and hence is potentially useful for early IS detection, diagnosis, and prevention in clinical practice.
Implementation of eMental health technologies for informal caregivers: A multiple case study
Authors: Bastoni Sofia , van Gemert-Pijnen Lisette , Sanderman Robbert , van Dongen Anne
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Informal caregivers offer continuous unpaid support to loved ones who are unable to live independently. Providing care can be a very burdensome commitment, that heavily impacts informal caregivers’ mental health. eMental health is a possible, yet challenging, solution to improve caregivers’ mental health and their overall experience of caregiving. In fact, eMental health technologies often face challenges of implementation. The present work gathers knowledge on how to best deal with these challenges by collecting testimonies of implementation experts of eight eMental health technologies for informal caregivers with the aim of comparing them and extracting lessons learned.

Methods

For this multiple case study, technologies were selected (through informal suggestions and independent search) according to the following inclusion criteria: they were intended for informal caregivers as main user group, were aimed at improving informal caregivers’ mental wellbeing and caregiving experience and were available and running in real life settings in Europe. Ten interviews were conducted (two pilots and eight included cases). The interviewees were asked to provide a description of the technology and its aims and their implementation approach, method and frameworks used. Finally, determinants of implementation, the influence of the Covid-19 pandemic on implementation processes and lessons learned were investigated.

Results

The results highlight key differences between technologies developed within academia and the industry regarding efficacy testing and use and use and choice of frameworks. Also, similarities in terms of recognized barriers such as financing are illustrated.

Discussion

Possible ways to overcome main barriers and examples of best practices, such as structuring a business model and discussing tool maintenance and long-term hosting in advance, are discussed.
Sphenoid sinus is a rare site for tumor-induced osteomalacia: A case report and literature review
Authors: Wang Fen , He Wentao , Ma Delin , Xu Weijie , Xie Junhui , Yuan Gang
Published: March 2023

Background

In this paper, we present a rare case of tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) and a literature review of this rare disease.

Methods

A case of TIO of the isolated sphenoid sinus was reported. Furthermore, the clinical features of TIO in the sphenoid sinus and other sinonasal sinuses were also reviewed and summarized.

Results

A 35-year-old man with muscle weakness and lower back pain came to the Department of Neurology. No obvious neurological disease was found; however, magnetic resonance imaging of the extremities accidentally showed a tumor in the axilla. Bone scintigraphy showed suspicious bone metastasis. Hypophosphatemia was neglected. Interestingly, 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-d-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) detected a tumor in the axilla and another in the sphenoid sinus, but only the tumor in the sphenoid sinus had somatostatin receptor (SSTR) expression in 68-gallium 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid octreotate (Ga-68 DOTATATE) PET/CT. The sphenoid sinus tumor was proven to be a phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor (PMT), and the phosphate levels returned to normal after surgery. The literature review showed only 17 cases of TIOs that occurred in the sphenoid sinus, with an average age of 43.3 ± 13.7 years. Only three cases of TIOs in the sphenoid sinus did not invade the nasal cavity or other paranasal sinuses, which could be identified as isolated sphenoid sinus diseases. We compared the clinical features of sphenoid TIOs with those of non-sphenoid sinonasal TIOs, and it was found that the concentration of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D in the group with sphenoid TIOs was much higher than that in the group with non-sphenoid sinonasal TIOs. A total of 153 cases of TIOs in the sinonasal sinus were reviewed. The ethmoid sinus was found to be the major site (64.7%), followed by the nasal cavity (50.3%), maxillary sinus (19.0%), frontal sinus (16.4%), and sphenoid sinus (11.8%). There were 66 patients (43.1%) who showed tumors invading more than one sinus. Most of the tumors (69.3%) were diagnosed as PMTs by pathology, followed by hemangiopericytoma (14.3%). Immunostaining was beneficial in the differential diagnosis of these tumors; however, larger sample sizes are needed for better accuracy.

Conclusion

TIO in the sinonasal sinus, especially in the sphenoid sinus, is rare. Moreover, isolated sphenoid sinus disease can be easily misdiagnosed. When the clinical manifestation of osteomalacia is atypical, associating it with sphenoid sinus disease is even more difficult. Thus, TIO in the sphenoid sinus needs further exploration.
Impacts of high temperature during early capped brood on pupal development and the size of appendages in adult workers Apis cerana
Authors: Xu Xinjian , Du Xia , Zhou Shujing , Zhou Bingfeng , Lai Kang , Wang Qing , Li Han , Zhu Chenyu , Xu Hongzhi , Zhang Xianlan , Cao Mingjie , Zhu Xiangjie
Published: March 2023

Whether the development of honeybee broods is healthy or not determines the productivity of bee colonies. Pupation is a critical period in the development of holometabolous insects, characterized by the transition from larva to pupa, and its sensitivity to high temperature was investigated in Apis cerana worker bees. Mature larvae (ML), the first and second days of prepupa (PP1 and PP2), and the first day of pupa (P1) were exposed to 40°C for varied durations of time. The mortality, development duration, birth weight, size of the body, and appendages of eclosed Apis cerana worker bees were measured. Results showed that PP1 had the highest mortality, the lowest birth weight, and the longest development duration among the pupation stages. When exposed to 40°C for 12 h and 16 h, more than 28 and 84% of PP1 failed to complete development, respectively. Additionally, high-temperature treatment had a significant effect on the length of the proboscis, the size of the forewing, and the size of the hind leg. These findings suggest that ML and PP1 are crucial checkpoints for wing and appendage (proboscis and legs) development and provide insights into the mechanisms of honeybee brood susceptibility to high-temperature stress in the context of global warming.
Dynamic of centromere associated RNAs and the centromere loading of DNA repair proteins in growing oocytes
Authors: Yang Lin-Li , Li Yan-Chu , Xia Tian-Jin , Li Sen , Feng Xie , Li Chao , Xie Feng-Yun , Ou Xiang-Hong , Ma Jun-Yu
Published: March 2023

Mammalian centromeres are generally composed of dispersed repeats and the satellites such as α-satellites in human and major/minor satellites in mouse. Transcription of centromeres by RNA polymerase II is evolutionary conserved and critical for kinetochore assembly. In addition, it has been found that the transcribed satellite RNAs can bind DNA repair proteins such as MRE11 and PRKDC, and excessively expressed satellite RNAs could induce genome instability and facilitate tumorigenesis. During the maturation of female oocyte, centromeres are critical for accurate segregation of homologous chromosomes and sister chromatids. However, the dynamics of oocyte centromere transcription and whether it associated with DNA repair proteins are unknown. In this study, we found the transcription of centromeres is active in growing oocytes but it is silenced when oocytes are fully grown. DNA repair proteins like Mlh1, Mre11 and Prkdc are found associated with the minor satellites and this association can be interfered by RNA polymerase II inhibitor α-amanitin. When the growing oocyte is in vitro matured, Mlh1/Mre11/Prkdc foci would release from centromeres to the ooplasm. If the oocytes are treated with Mre11 inhibitor Mirin, the meiosis resumption of growing oocytes with Mre11 foci can be suppressed. These data revealed the dynamic of centromeric transcription in oocytes and its potential association with DNA repair proteins, which provide clues about how oocytes maintain centromere stability and assemble kinetochores.
Cellular and humoral immunogenicity of the COVID-19 vaccine and COVID-19 disease severity in individuals with immunodeficiency
Authors: Murray C. E. , O’Brien C. , Alamin S. , Phelan S. H. , Argue R. , Kiersey R. , Gardiner M. , Naughton A. , Keogh E. , Holmes P. , Naughton S. , Scanlon A. , Sloan A. , McCrea P. , Sui J. , Dunne J. , Conlon N.
Published: March 2023

Background

A well-coordinated adaptive immune response is crucial for limiting COVID-19 disease. Some individuals with immunodeficiency are at a high risk of developing severe COVID-19. Therefore, the development of standardized methods for measuring different arms of the vaccine response in the setting of immunodeficiency is of particular interest. In this study, we compared the vaccine response of individuals living with immunodeficiency with healthy controls in terms of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production and spike protein-specific antibody level post primary COVID-19 vaccination and booster vaccines. Additionally, the disease severity of those individuals who contracted COVID-19 was assessed.

Methods

Whole blood was stimulated overnight from 71 participants and 99 healthy controls. Commercially available PepTivator® peptide pool and trimeric spike protein stimulation were used. ELISA was used to analyze IFN-γ levels. The total SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibody titre was measured using a Roche Elecsys® S total antibody assay. Patient characteristics, COVID-19 infection status and IDDA 2.1 ‘Kaleidoscope’ scores were recorded. Vaccine responses were scored from zero to three.

Results

99% of healthy controls, 89% of individuals with IEI and 76% with secondary immunodeficiency (SID) had an IFN-γ level above the validated reference range after peptide mix stimulation following primary vaccination. There was an increase in IFN-γ levels in patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) following the booster vaccine (p = 0.0156). 100% of healthy controls, 70% of individuals living with IEI and 64% of individuals living with SID had detectable spike protein-specific antibody levels following the primary vaccination. 55% of immunodeficiency patients who had mild COVID-19 and 10% with moderate/severe COVID-19 had detectable antibody and IFN-γ levels post vaccine. The mean pre-infection IDDA 2.1 scores were higher in individuals who developed moderate/severe COVID-19 (25.2 compared to 9.41).

Conclusions

Covid whole-blood IGRA is a highly accurate, straightforward and robust assay and can be easily adapted to measure cellular response to COVID-19. A complete evaluation of the vaccine response may be particularly important for individuals living with immunodeficiency. A clinical immunodeficiency score and a validated vaccine response score may be valuable tools in estimating COVID-19 disease risk and identifying individuals living with immunodeficiency who may benefit from enhanced vaccination schedules.
Targeting NK-1R attenuates renal fibrosis via modulating inflammatory responses and cell fate in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Zhu Enyi , Liu Yang , Zhong Ming , Liu Yu , Jiang Xi , Shu Xiaorong , Li Na , Guan Hui , Xia Yin , Li Jinhong , Lan Hui-yao , Zheng Zhihua
Published: March 2023

Background

Renal fibrosis is the final common pathway of chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is clinically irreversible and without effective therapy. Renal tubules are vulnerable to various insults, and tubular injury is involving in the initiation and evolution of renal inflammation and fibrosis. Neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) functions by interacting with proinflammatory neuropeptide substance P (SP), exerting crucial roles in various neurological and non-neurological diseases. However, its roles in renal inflammation and fibrosis are still unknown.

Methods

We collected renal biopsy specimens and serum samples of individuals with or without CKD. Additionally, knockout mice lacking NK-1R expression, SP addition and NK-1R pharmacological antagonist treatment in the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model, and NK-1R-overexpressed HK-2 cells were employed.

Results

Renal SP/NK-1R and serum SP were increased in patients with CKD and mice experiencing UUO and correlated with renal fibrosis and function. SP addition enhanced UUO-induced progressive inflammatory responses and renal fibrosis, whereas genetically or pharmacologically targeting NK-1R attenuated these effects. Mechanistically, TFAP4 promoted NK-1R transcription by binding to its promoter, which was abolished by mutation of the binding site between TFAP4 and NK-1R promoter. Furthermore, SP acted through the NK-1R to activate the JNK/p38 pathways to modulate cell fate of tubular epithelial cells including growth arrest, apoptosis, and expression of profibrogenic genes.

Conclusion

Our data reveals that SP/NK-1R signaling promotes renal inflammatory responses and fibrosis, suggesting NK-1R could be a potential therapeutic target for the patients with CKD.
Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA): Strategic model for sustainable mariculture in Samanco Bay, Peru
Authors: Loayza-Aguilar Rómulo E. , Huamancondor-Paz Yolanda P. , Saldaña-Rojas Guillermo B. , Olivos-Ramirez Gustavo E.
Published: March 2023

The development of industrial mariculture in Peruvian coasts will continue to grow according to global trends; however, it is characterized by being mostly monospecific, resulting in ecosystemic impacts due to organic matter, which deteriorate the benthic system and encourage eutrophication, negatively affecting biodiversity and fishery resources, which in a long term could turn the activity into an unsustainable practice. Therefore, it is imperative to adopt new production models, focused on the sustainability principle, such as Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), that allow for greater efficiency, competitiveness, and profitability, while guaranteeing environmental balance. In this context, the present study has addressed the problem of Argopecten purpuratus cultivation in Samanco Bay, in which, based on a diagnosis of the bay's conditions, details of the cultivation, and a thorough analysis of the IMTA concept, a strategic model for mariculture is proposed in order to be adopted by private companies, after a validation process. These concepts can be transferred for their adaptation to other scenarios. Furthermore, it is expected that the academic sector, private companies, and the competent authority will be able to intervene synergistically in this process.
Data availability and participatory approach: the right mix for enhancing Mediterranean fisheries’ sustainability
Authors: Malvarosa Loretta , Basilone Gualtiero , Carbonara Pierluigi , Carpentieri Paolo , Cozzolino Maria , Follesa Maria Cristina , Gambino Monica , Gancitano Vita , Parreno Duque David , Pesci Paola , Vielmini Ilaria , Scarcella Giuseppe
Published: March 2023

A misalignment between the legislation and the effectiveness of Mediterranean fisheries management has emerged due to the status of the stocks (still largely in overfishing) and the discontent of stakeholders regarding management plans and tools that are not always recognized as appropriate to the characteristics of the concerned fisheries. Stakeholders’ involvement in management processes is one of the main pillars of the Common Fisheries Policy revision. The literature underlines, in an increasingly urgent manner, the importance of stakeholders fully understanding the contents of management plans and, vice versa, necessary for the successful implementation of policies. Focusing on the path towards sustainability endorsed by the BluFish project, the paper tries to provide an answer about the sustainability of some selected Southern Italian fisheries, by adopting the assessment approach of the Marine Stewardship Council. The assessment approach, based on a set of Performance Indicators and on a well-defined scoring scheme, focuses on three dimensions of sustainability. In addition to the classic assessment of the state of the stocks, there is an extensive screening of the impact of anthropic activity such as fishing on the entire ecosystem, including both the impact on accessory species and on vulnerable habitats and species. The evaluation adopted goes even further, with an approach that also includes the management and governance sphere, also trying to evaluate the level of involvement of the operators in the decision-making process. The paper illustrates that the selected fisheries are not fully sustainable but some of them have excellent potential for improvement even in the short term by identifying and implementing the appropriate action. The most relevant weaknesses identified refer to the low scores obtained for sustainability of stocks, mainly around the Harvest Control Rules (HCR) and the Harvest Strategy indicators, highlighting the importance of improving the management of the assessed stocks. The paper highlights how data and scientific knowledge availability is essential for a detailed mapping and evaluation of fishing activities but also that the path towards more sustainable and responsible fisheries does not work without a strong participation of all the key stakeholders.
COVID-19 and MAFLD/NAFLD: An updated review
Authors: Nowroozi Ali , Momtazmanesh Sara , Rezaei Nima
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing and places a substantial burden on healthcare systems worldwide. As we further shed light on different disease characteristics, we identify more and more groups of people at higher risk of poor COVID-19 outcomes. Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) (previously non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD) is a common metabolic disorder characterized by fat accumulation and liver fibrosis. Given its close correlation with metabolic syndrome, an established risk factor for severe COVID-19, it is necessary to investigate its interplay with the novel coronavirus. In this study, we review the available data on COVID-19 prognosis, treatment and prevention options in patients with MAFLD, and the effect that the disease and the pandemic have on MAFLD care. Furthermore, we point out the gaps in the current literature to accentuate the work that needs to be done to improve MAFLD care during the pandemic and beyond.
Adherence to the therapeutic guidelines recommendations among the people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, frailty, or recent diagnosis, attended in primary health care centers in Spain: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Vlacho Bogdan , Mata-Cases Manel , Fernandez-Camins Berta , Romera Liébana Laura , Barrot-de la Puente Joan , Franch-Nadal Josep
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Clinical practice guidelines are helpful for clinicians, and their proper implementation could improve the quality of care and management of participants with diabetes. This study aimed to evaluate the degree of adherence to the Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) recommendations among obese, frail, or recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) participants in primary care centers in Spain.

Methods

We perform a cross-sectional study on a national level in two phases. In the first phase, study participants were recruited, and their clinical data were collected. In the second phase, data related to the participating physicians were collected.

Results

In total, 882 participants from 240 physicians were analyzed. According to the study questionnaire, most participants from all three clinical groups had adequate adherence to the CPG. This percentage was highest among the recently diagnosed T2DM (91.6%) and lowest percent of frail T2DM persons (74.7%). The inadequate adherence to the guidelines was observed mainly among the obese and frail participants with T2DM from medical doctors with low CPG knowledge (3.4% and 3.5%, respectively). Regarding the patient's characteristics and degree of adherence to the guidelines, the participants with inadequate adherence were generally older, with higher BMI, poorer HbA1c control, and fewer visits with primary care physicians. Most (57%) primary care physicians had moderate CPG knowledge. In our multivariable logistic model, we did not observe statistically significant odds ratios for different characteristics related to the physicians/consultation and low CPG knowledge.

Discussion

The results of our cross-sectional study observe adequate adherence to the clinical guidelines by the primary care physicians for the majority of the participants with obesity, frailty, or newly diagnosed with T2DM.
Improving the accuracy of revised cardiac risk index with HbA1C: Hemoglobin ratio (HH ratio) – A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Ke Yuhe , Shannon Nicholas Brian , Abdullah Hairil Rizal
Published: March 2023

Background

The current Lee’s Revised cardiac risk index (RCRI) was created in 1999. Validation studies have found RCRI to be only moderately discriminant. The “Diabetes Mellitus on insulin” component of the score does not accurately reflect the severity of the disease. A previously studied HbA1C:Hemoglobin ratio shows an improved association with outcomes than individual components alone.

Study design

A retrospective cohort study was performed in diabetic patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Ethics approval was obtained. The study compares the predictive value of RCRI and substitution of the “DM on insulin” component with HH ratio for 30- and 90-day mortality, and postoperative acute myocardial injury (AMI) and acute kidney injury (AKI).

Results

A total of 20,099 adult patients were included in the final analysis. The incidence of 30- and 90-day mortality was at 4.2 and 6.5%, respectively. Substitution of HH ratio in RCRI resulted in 687 more patients being in the moderate to high-risk category. The substituted HH-RCRI score had better prediction for 30-day (AUC 0.66 vs. 0.69, p < 0.001) and 90-day mortality (AUC 0.67 vs. 0.70, p < 0.001), and postoperative AMI (AUC 0.69 vs. 0.71, p < 0.001) and AKI (AUC 0.57 vs. 0.62, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Although currently not an universal practice, substitution of “DM on insulin” with HbA1C:Hemoglobin ratio in RCRI score improves the accuracy of the RCRI risk prediction model in diabetic patients going for non-cardiac surgery.
RNA silencing proteins and small RNAs in oomycete plant pathogens and biocontrol agents
Authors: Piombo Edoardo , Kelbessa Bekele Gelena , Sundararajan Poorva , Whisson Stephen C. , Vetukuri Ramesh Raju , Dubey Mukesh
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Oomycetes cause several damaging diseases of plants and animals, and some species also act as biocontrol agents on insects, fungi, and other oomycetes. RNA silencing is increasingly being shown to play a role in the pathogenicity of Phytophthora species, either through trans-boundary movement of small RNAs (sRNAs) or through expression regulation of infection promoting effectors.

Methods

To gain a wider understanding of RNA silencing in oomycete species with more diverse hosts, we mined genome assemblies for Dicer-like (DCL), Argonaute (AGO), and RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RDRP) proteins from Phytophthora plurivora, Ph. cactorum, Ph. colocasiae, Pythium oligandrum, Py. periplocum, and Lagenidium giganteum. Moreover, we sequenced small RNAs from the mycelium stage in each of these species.

Results and discussion

Each of the species possessed a single DCL protein, but they differed in the number and sequence of AGOs and RDRPs. SRNAs of 21nt, 25nt, and 26nt were prevalent in all oomycetes analyzed, but the relative abundance and 5’ base preference of these classes differed markedly between genera. Most sRNAs mapped to transposons and other repeats, signifying that the major role for RNA silencing in oomycetes is to limit the expansion of these elements. We also found that sRNAs may act to regulate the expression of duplicated genes. Other sRNAs mapped to several gene families, and this number was higher in Pythium spp., suggesting a role of RNA silencing in regulating gene expression. Genes for most effector classes were the source of sRNAs of variable size, but some gene families showed a preference for specific classes of sRNAs, such as 25/26 nt sRNAs targeting RxLR effector genes in Phytophthora species. Novel miRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) were discovered in all species, and two were predicted to target transcripts for RxLR effectors in Ph. plurivora and Ph. cactorum, indicating a putative role in regulating infection. Moreover, milRNAs from the biocontrol Pythium species had matches in the predicted transcriptome of Phytophthora infestans and Botrytis cinerea, and L. giganteum milRNAs matched candidate genes in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. This suggests that trans-boundary RNA silencing may have a role in the biocontrol action of these oomycetes.
Exploiting volume electron microscopy to investigate structural plasticity and stability of the postsynaptic compartment of central synapses
Authors: Maiellano Greta , Scandella Lucrezia , Francolini Maura
Published: March 2023

Volume reconstruction from electron microscopy datasets is a tool increasingly used to study the ultrastructure of the synapse in the broader context of neuronal network and brain organization. Fine modifications of synapse structure, such as activity-dependent dendritic spine enlargement and changes in the size and shape of the postsynaptic density, occur upon maturation and plasticity. The lack of structural plasticity or the inability to stabilize potentiated synapses are associated with synaptic and neuronal functional impairment. Mapping these rearrangements with the high resolution of electron microscopy proved to be essential in order to establish precise correlations between the geometry of synapses and their functional states. In this review we discuss recent discoveries on the substructure of the postsynaptic compartment of central excitatory synapses and how those are correlated with functional states of the neuronal network. The added value of volume electron microscopy analyses with respect to conventional transmission electron microscopy studies is highlighted considering that some limitations of volume-based methods imposed several adjustments to describe the geometry of this synaptic compartment and new parameters–that are good indicators of synapses strength and activity–have been introduced.
Awakening the dormant: Role of axonal guidance cues in stress-induced reorganization of the adult prefrontal cortex leading to depression-like behavior
Authors: Mahmud Ashraf , Avramescu Radu Gabriel , Niu Zhipeng , Flores Cecilia
Published: March 2023

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a chronic and disabling disorder affecting roughly 280 million people worldwide. While multiple brain areas have been implicated, dysfunction of prefrontal cortex (PFC) circuitry has been consistently documented in MDD, as well as in animal models for stress-induced depression-like behavioral states. During brain development, axonal guidance cues organize neuronal wiring by directing axonal pathfinding and arborization, dendritic growth, and synapse formation. Guidance cue systems continue to be expressed in the adult brain and are emerging as important mediators of synaptic plasticity and fine-tuning of mature neural networks. Dysregulation or interference of guidance cues has been linked to depression-like behavioral abnormalities in rodents and MDD in humans. In this review, we focus on the emerging role of guidance cues in stress-induced changes in adult prefrontal cortex circuitry and in precipitating depression-like behaviors. We discuss how modulating axonal guidance cue systems could be a novel approach for precision medicine and the treatment of depression.
Resveratrol prevents hearing loss and a subregion specific- reduction of serotonin reuptake transporter induced by noise exposure in the central auditory system
Authors: Cheng Long-Quan , Shu Fang-Qi , Zhang Min , Kai Yuan-Zhong , Tang Zheng-Quan
Published: March 2023

Prolonged or excessive exposure to noise can lead to hearing loss, tinnitus and hypersensitivity to sound. The effects of noise exposure on main excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter systems in auditory pathway have been extensively investigated. However, little is known about aberrant changes in neuromodulator systems caused by noise exposure. In the current study, we exposed 2-month-old mice to a narrow band noise at 116 dB SPL for 6 h or sham exposure, assessed auditory brainstem responses as well as examined the expression of serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) in the cochlear nucleus (CN), inferior colliculus (IC), and primary auditory cortex (Au1) using immunohistochemistry. We found that noise exposure resulted in a significant increase in hearing thresholds at 4, 8, 16, 24, and 32 kHz, as well as led to a significant reduction of SERT in dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN), dorsal IC (ICd), external IC (ICe), and Au1 layers I-IV. This reduction of SERT in these subregions of central auditory system was partially recovered 15 or 30 days after noise exposure. Furthermore, we examined efficacy of resveratrol (RSV) on hearing loss and loss of SERT induced by noise exposure. The results demonstrated that RSV treatment significantly attenuated threshold shifts of auditory brainstem responses and loss of SERT in DCN, ICd, ICe, and Au1 layers I-IV. These findings show that noise exposure can cause hearing loss and subregion-specific loss of SERT in the central auditory system, and RSV treatment could attenuate noise exposure-induced hearing loss and loss of SERT in central auditory system.
EEGformer: A transformer–based brain activity classification method using EEG signal
Authors: Wan Zhijiang , Li Manyu , Liu Shichang , Huang Jiajin , Tan Hai , Duan Wenfeng
Published: March 2023

Background

The effective analysis methods for steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) signals are critical in supporting an early diagnosis of glaucoma. Most efforts focused on adopting existing techniques to the SSVEPs-based brain–computer interface (BCI) task rather than proposing new ones specifically suited to the domain.

Method

Given that electroencephalogram (EEG) signals possess temporal, regional, and synchronous characteristics of brain activity, we proposed a transformer–based EEG analysis model known as EEGformer to capture the EEG characteristics in a unified manner. We adopted a one-dimensional convolution neural network (1DCNN) to automatically extract EEG-channel-wise features. The output was fed into the EEGformer, which is sequentially constructed using three components: regional, synchronous, and temporal transformers. In addition to using a large benchmark database (BETA) toward SSVEP-BCI application to validate model performance, we compared the EEGformer to current state-of-the-art deep learning models using two EEG datasets, which are obtained from our previous study: SJTU emotion EEG dataset (SEED) and a depressive EEG database (DepEEG).

Results

The experimental results show that the EEGformer achieves the best classification performance across the three EEG datasets, indicating that the rationality of our model architecture and learning EEG characteristics in a unified manner can improve model classification performance.

Conclusion

EEGformer generalizes well to different EEG datasets, demonstrating our approach can be potentially suitable for providing accurate brain activity classification and being used in different application scenarios, such as SSVEP-based early glaucoma diagnosis, emotion recognition and depression discrimination.
Systematic review of craniofacial osteosarcoma regarding different clinical, therapeutic and prognostic parameters
Authors: Weber Verena , Stigler Robert , Lutz Rainer , Kesting Marco , Weber Manuel
Published: March 2023

Background

Osteosarcomas are the most common primary bone tumor while occurrence in the craniofacial skeleton is relatively rare. There are clinical differences of osteosarcomas regarding their location. In this regard craniofacial osteosarcomas (COS) have special characteristics. Extracranial osteosarcomas (EOS) occur mainly in the long bones of the extremities (tibia, humerus and femur). These tumors metastasize hematogenically at a very early stage. In comparison, COS are mainly localized in the mandible and maxilla, occur later in life and show significantly less and later metastasis and respond differently to adjuvant therapy. In the literature, clinical characteristics of COS and EOS are rarely compared directly. The aim of this systematic review is to answer the question whether COS and EOS exhibit fundamentally different clinical behavior and how they differ in terms of survival rates and response to different therapies.

Methods

A systemic review was performed. Pubmed, Cochrane and Google Scholar were used as search engines. The literature research was done by using clearly defined terms and their links. 124 full texts were selected and evaluated for this review. The inclusion criteria were determined using the PICO model.

Results

COS have significantly better survival rates, especially if they are located in the jawbone. Surgical R0 resection is crucial for therapeutic success. The study situation regarding the benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in COS is very inhomogeneous. There is also no evidence for the benefit of adjuvant radio- or chemotherapy in COS. The large heterogeneity of the studies in terms of therapeutic concept, initial situation of the patients and outcome considered, as well as the small number of patients with craniofacial osteosarcoma were limiting factors.

Conclusion

The results of this study show the clear therapeutic and prognostic differences between COS and EOS and underline the necessity to consider both types of osteosarcoma as independent tumor entities in future studies. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of surgical R0 resection for the prognosis of COS patients. There is no evidence for therapeutic benefit of adjuvant/neoadjuvant radio-/chemotherapy in R0 resected COS cases.