bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUTRITION AND EXERCISE BEHAVIOR WITH SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION IN ADOLESCENT FEMALES
Authors: YILDIZ Müberra , KUYUMCU Aliye
Published: February 2022

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of social media addiction on nutrition/exercise behavior in adolescent females. The questionnaire study consisted 450 adolescent females as population and 295 adolescent females as sample. In this study, Short Form of the Social Media Addiction Scale for Adolescents and the Nutrition Exercise Behavior Scale (NEBS) were used. NEBS had four sub-dimensions (psychological/addicted eating behavior, healthy eating/exercise behavior, unhealthy eating-exercise behavior and meal pattern). The adolescent females' average age and Body Mass Index were 16.4±1.17 years and 21.3±3.46 kg/m2, respectively. As a result, 84.7% of adolescents do not exercise regularly. Social media addiction was found in 63.4% of adolescents. While there was a positive correlation between social media scale score and psychological/addicted eating behavior (r:0.430, p<0.001) and unhealthy diet-exercise behavior (r:0.353, p<0.001); A negative correlation was found between social media score and healthy eating/exercise behavior (r:-0.165, p<0.05) and eating pattern (r:-0.399, p<0.05). In this study, it was prominently revealed the effect of social media addiction on nutrition-exercise behavior. It is thought that this study will raise awareness about the prevention of the negative effects of social media on nutrition-exercise behaviors and can be a source of data for other studies.
Fair and Square Redistricting
Authors: Fox James
Published: February 2022

The “Guide to Fair Maps” is written for citizens, advocates and commissioners, as well as legislators, lawyers and judges. This policy guide (1) discusses why Fair Maps are so important to preserve our representative democracy, (2) describes a straightforward test for gerrymandering; and (3) offers a procedure to eradicate gerrymandering while achieving other desired redistricting criteria. The guide contains a broad range of illustrative maps. An associated research paper, “Fair and Square Redistricting,” details, justifies and illustrates a new procedure for constructing legislative district maps. This approach is transparent, nonpartisan, and straightforward. The procedure builds maps where the districts are compact and the maps are verified to be free of gerrymandering.
OPTIMASI LOKASI POS PEMADAM KEBAKARAN DI KABUPATEN SITUBONDO MENGGUNAKAN PEMROGRAMAN LINIER
Authors: Idayani Darsih , Faisi Asmul , Puspitasari Yesi
Published: February 2022

Optimization of fire station location is carried out to determine the optimal location of the fire station to obtain efficiency and effectiveness in handling fire incidents. In this research, the optimization problem of the fire station location's in Situbondo District is solved by a linear programming model with a minimization objective function, i.e to minimize costs. The constraints are travel time and non-negative constraints. The model was solved using the simplex method by MPL (Mathematical Programming Language) software. The minimization objective function is chosen to obtain minimal costs due to the minimal number of fire stations. The result is there should be two fire stations in Situbondo District, i.e Banyuglugur and Arjasa Sub-Districts which is indicated by the optimization results  x3 = x14 and objective function zmin = 2.

 

Optimasi lokasi pemadam kebakaran dilakukan untuk menentukan lokasi pos pemadam kebakaran yang optimal sehingga menghasilkan efisiensi dan efektivitas dalam melakukan penanganan kejadian kebakaran. Dalam penelitian ini, permasalahan optimasi lokasi pos pemadam kebakaran di Kabupaten Situbondo diselesaikan dengan menggunakan model pemrograman linier dengan fungsi tujuan minimasi, yaitu meminimalkan biaya. Kendala yang digunakan adalah kendala waktu tempuh dan kendala non-negatif. Model tersebut diselesaikan menggunakan metode simpleks menggunakan bantuan software MPL (Mathematical Programming Language). Fungsi tujuan minimasi dipilih untuk mendapatkan jumlah pos pemadam kebakaran yang paling sedikit sehingga biaya yang dikeluarkan sedikit. Hasilnya adalah pos pemadam kebakaran di Kabupaten Situbondo seharusnya ada dua, yaitu di Kecamatan Banyuglugur dan Kecamatan Arjasa yang ditunjukkan dengan hasil optimasi  x3 = x14 dan fungsi objektif zmin = 2.
Protein Expression Landscape Defines the Formation Potential of Mouse Blastoids From EPSCs
Authors: Min Zheying , Zhong Ke , Luo Yuxin , Fan Yong , Yu Yang
Published: February 2022

Preimplantation embryo development is a precisely regulated process organized by maternally inherited and newly synthesized proteins. Recently, some studies have reported that blastocyst-like structures, named blastoids, can be generated from mouse ESCs (embryonic stem cells) or EPSCs (extended pluripotent stem cells). In this study, to explore the dynamic expression characteristics of proteins and their PTMs in mouse EPS blastoids, we revealed the protein expression profile of EPS blastoids and metabolite characteristics by TMT-based quantitative mass spectrometry (MS) strategy. Furthermore, the protein phosphorylation sites were identified to show the phosphoproteomic analysis in blastoids compared with mouse early embryos. Above all, our study revealed the protein expression profile of EPS blastoids compared with mouse embryos during preimplantation development and indicated that glucose metabolism is key to blastoid formation.
Energy Redistribution Following CO2 Formation on Cold Amorphous Solid Water
Authors: Upadhyay Meenu , Meuwly Markus
Published: February 2022

The formation of molecules in and on amorphous solid water (ASW) as it occurs in interstellar space releases appreciable amounts of energy that need to be dissipated to the environment. Here, energy transfer between CO2 formed within and on the surface of amorphous solid water (ASW) and the surrounding water is studied. Following CO(1Σ+) + O(1D) recombination the average translational and internal energy of the water molecules increases on the ∼10 ps time scale by 15–25% depending on whether the reaction takes place on the surface or in an internal cavity of ASW. Due to tight coupling between CO2 and the surrounding water molecules the internal energy exhibits a peak at early times which is present for recombination on the surface but absent for the process inside ASW. Energy transfer to the water molecules is characterized by a rapid ∼10 ps and a considerably slower ∼1 ns component. Within 50 ps a mostly uniform temperature increase of the ASW across the entire surface is found. The results suggest that energy transfer between a molecule formed on and within ASW is efficient and helps to stabilize the reaction products generated.
Analyzing the Effect of Vaccination Over COVID Cases and Deaths in Asian Countries Using Machine Learning Models
Authors: Rustagi Vanshika , Bajaj Monika , Tanvi  , Singh Priya , Aggarwal Rajiv , AlAjmi Mohamed F. , Hussain Afzal , Hassan Md. Imtaiyaz , Singh Archana , Singh Indrakant K.
Published: February 2022

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading across the world, and vaccinations are running parallel. Coronavirus has mutated into a triple-mutated virus, rendering it deadlier than before. It spreads quickly from person to person by contact and nasal or pharyngeal droplets. The COVID-19 database ‘Our World in Data’ was analyzed from February 24, 2020, to September 26, 2021, and predictions on the COVID positives and their mortality rate were made. Factors such as Vaccine data for the First and Second Dose vaccinated individuals and COVID positives that influence the fluctuations in the COVID-19 death ratio were investigated and linear regression analysis was performed. Based on vaccination doses (partial or complete vaccinated), models are created to estimate the number of patients who die from COVID infection. The estimation of variance in the datasets was investigated using Karl Pearson’s coefficient. For COVID-19 cases and vaccination doses, a quartic polynomial regression model was also created. This predictor model helps to predict the number of deaths due to COVID-19 and determine the susceptibility to COVID-19 infection based on the number of vaccine doses received. SVM was used to analyze the efficacy of models generated.
An Epidemic Analogy Highlights the Importance of Targeted Community Engagement in Spaces Susceptible to Misinformation
Authors: Osman Aya , Ogbunugafor C. Brandon
Published: February 2022

The study of the misinformation and disinformation epidemics includes the use of disease terminology as an analogy in some cases, and the formal application of epidemiological principles in others. While these have been effective in reframing how to prevent the spread of misinformation, they have less to say about other, more indirect means through which misinformation can be addressed in marginalized communities. In this perspective, we develop a conceptual model based on an epidemiology analogy that offers a new lens on science-driven community engagement. Rather than simulate the particulars of a given misinformation outbreak, our framework instead suggests how activities might be engineered as interventions to fit the specific needs of marginalized audiences, towards undermining the invasion and spread of misinformation. We discuss several communication activities–in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and others—and offer suggestions for how practices can be better orchestrated to fit certain contexts. We emphasize the utility of our model for engaging communities distrustful of scientific institutions.
Thrombosis and Major Bleeding Risk After Primary PCI Among Patients With Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Zhao Xiaoxiao , Liu Chen , Zhou Peng , Sheng Zhaoxue , Li Jiannan , Zhou Jinying , Chen Runzhen , Wang Ying , Chen Yi , Song Li , Zhao Hanjun , Yan Hongbing
Published: February 2022

Background and Aim

This study aimed to develop and validate separate risk prediction models for thrombosis events (TEs) and major bleeding (MB) in patients with multivessel coronary artery lesions who had undergone primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods and Results

Thrombosis events (TEs) were defined as the composite of myocardial infarction recurrence or ischemic cerebrovascular events, whereas MB was defined as the occurrence of bleeding academic research consortium (BARC) three or five bleeding. The derivation and validation cohorts comprised 2,976 patients who underwent primary PCI between January 2010 and June 2017. At a median follow-up of 3.07 years (1,122 days), TEs and MB occurred in 167 and 98 patients, respectively. Independent predictors of TEs were older age, prior PCI, non-ST elevated MI (NSTEMI), and stent thrombosis (ST). Independent predictors of MB were triple therapy at discharge, coronary artery bifurcation lesions, lesion restenosis, target lesion of the left main coronary artery, stent thrombosis, non-use of IABP during primary PCI, type A/B according to the American College of Cardiology classification of the coronary lesion, and PTCA. In the derivation and validation cohorts, the areas under the curve were 0.817 and 0.82 for thrombosis and 0.886 and 0.976 for bleeding, respectively. In the derivation cohort, high thrombotic risk (n = 755) was associated with higher 3-year incidence of TEs, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), and all-cause death compared to low risk (n = 1,275) (p = 0.0022, 0.019, and 0.012, respectively). High bleeding risk (n = 1,675) was associated with higher incidence of bleeding, MACEs, and cardiac death compared to low risk (n = 355) (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Simple risk scores can be useful in predicting risks of ischemic and bleeding events after primary PCI, thereby stratifying thrombotic or MB risks and facilitating clinical decisions.
High Intensity Interval Training Leads to Similar Inflammatory Activation as Seen With Traditional Training in Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Taylor Arlana G. , Ignaszewski Andrew I. , Bredin Shannon S. D. , Hill John S. , Shellington Erin M. , Warburton Darren E. R.
Published: February 2022

Background

Inflammatory activation has been associated with the severity and progression of chronic heart failure (CHF). Although cardiac rehabilitation is an important therapy, acute bouts of exercise may lead to increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines with exercise intensity mediating these changes.

Objective

To evaluate the acute inflammatory response in patients living with CHF during a randomized trial following Steady State (SS) or High Intensity Interval (HIIT) training.

Methods

Patients living with CHF (n = 14) were stratified (for body mass and aerobic power) and randomized into SS and HIIT cycle exercise. The HIIT exercise training involved 2 min work:recovery phases at 90:40% heart rate reserve. The SS exercise training involved continuous exercise at 65% of heart rate reserve (matched total work). Acute inflammatory markers were evaluated (via ELISA) at baseline, immediately following the bout, and at 6, 24, and 48 h post-exercise.

Results

There was limited differences in the changes in inflammatory biomarkers across time between the HIIT and SS groups. Both groups experienced a significant (p < 0.05) change in Interleukin-6 immediately post-exercise.

Conclusions

A single bout of HIIT or SS does not result in excessive inflammatory activation in CHF patients. Acute HIIT and SS result in similar changes in inflammatory markers. These findings have important implications for exercise training and rehabilitation programs in persons living with CHF.
Analysis of the Deformation Law of Deep and Large Foundation Pits in Soft Soil Areas
Authors: Yang Tao , Liu Shuailei , Wang Xueyan , Zhao Hao , Liu Yang , Li Yanwei
Published: February 2022

Taking a deep excavation in Suzhou soft soils adopting three support schemes as the background, the excavation performance metrics, including the heave and lateral deformation of diaphragm walls, surface vertical deformation, vertical deformation of surrounding buildings, and earth pressure, are thoroughly investigated based on 15 excavation cases collected in the soft soil area of Suzhou. Based on the analysis of monitoring data, some findings were achieved: the foundation pit deformation is greatly affected by the spatial effect. The existing station can constrain the foundation pit deformation. Benefiting from the combination of various support solutions, the average maximum deflection of the diaphragm wall is 0.10% He. The maximum lateral movement depth of the diaphragm wall (δhm) is mainly located at (He-7, He+12.5). The vertical deformation of the wall top is greatly affected by the excavation exposure time and soil conditions. The heave range of the wall top is (−0.08∼0.26%) He. Under the action of the displacement of the diaphragm wall to outside the pit and the upward displacement of the wall top, the ground surface is uplifted, and the maximum uplift is (0.02∼0.14%) He, ranging from 0.12δhm to 1.13δhm. The maximum surface settlement is (−0.01% ∼ −0.15%) He, ranging from −0.22δhm to −3.11δhm. The form of building heave is mainly affected by the surface heave and the distance from the diaphragm wall (d). When d is within a certain range, there is a heave settlement difference between the adjacent side and the opposite side of the excavation, and the adjacent side undergoes mostly subsidence, while the opposite side undergoes mostly uplift. The peak value of the apparent earth pressure (AEP) envelope is 0.59γHe, which falls within (0.47∼0.78) He. The calculation scheme proposed by Kim can be used to predict the AEP for multiple soil types.
Study on Dynamic Response of Rock Slope With Inverse Non-Persistent Joints Under Earthquake
Authors: Guo Longxiao , Wu Yihan , Ren Kaihui , Zheng Lu , Zhang Hong
Published: February 2022

Based on the two-dimensional discrete element software UDEC, this article studied the dynamic response laws of rock slopes with inverse nonpersistent joints by the combination of different dip angles and spacing of joint and length of rock bridge under earthquake. The results showed that the existence of the joint surface had a significant impact on the dynamic response of the slope. When the dip angle of inverse nonpersistent joint increases or the joint spacing decreases, the PGA amplification factor of each monitoring point on the slope surface increases, and the influence range is mainly concentrated in the middle of the slope surface to the slope shoulder. Along the horizontal direction of the slope, closer to the shoulder of the slope, the PGA amplification factor increases with the increase of the joint dip angle and the decrease of rock bridge length and joint spacing; along the vertical direction, the PGA amplification coefficient curve increases first, then decreases, and then increases with the change of elevation, and the dynamic response of slope reacts the most violent where the joints are densely developed.
Iron Homeostasis and Hepcidin Concentration in Patients With Acromegaly
Authors: Krygier Aleksandra , Szczepanek-Parulska Ewelina , Cieślewicz Maja , Wrotkowska Elżbieta , Chanaj-Kaczmarek Justyna , Ruchała Marek
Published: February 2022

Hepcidin is a protein responsible for maintaining iron (Fe) homeostasis. Data regarding the role of hepcidin in the pathomechanism of Fe balance disturbances associated with acromegaly (AG) are scarce. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of alterations in complete blood count parameters, Fe homeostasis, gonadal status and GH/IGF-1 on the level of hepcidin in AG patients. The study evaluated the differences in hepcidin concentration and iron homeostasis between patients newly diagnosed with AG in comparison to healthy control subjects (CS). We prospectively enrolled 25 adult patients newly diagnosed with AG and 25 healthy volunteers who served as CS. The level of hepcidin was measured using the Hepcidin 25 (bioactive) hs ELISA, which is a highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative in vitro diagnostic measurement (DRG Instruments GmbH, Germany). The median of hepcidin concentration in the serum of patients with AG was significantly lower 9.8 (6.2–18.2) ng/ml as compared to CS 21.3 (14.3–34.0) ng/ml (p = 0.003). In the AG group, a statistically significant negative correlation between hepcidin and IGF-1 (rho = −0.441) was observed. Our study demonstrated a decreased hepcidin level in AG patients in comparison to CS what may have a potentially protective effect against anemia through an increased bioavailability of Fe. Additionally, GH may have a positive direct or indirect effect on erythropoiesis. Further studies on larger patient groups are necessary in order to clarify the exact role of hepcidin in the regulation of erythropoiesis in the excess of GH/IGF-1.
Performances of Machine Learning Algorithms in Predicting the Productivity of Conservation Agriculture at a Global Scale
Authors: Su Yang , Zhang Huang , Gabrielle Benoit , Makowski David
Published: February 2022

Assessing the productive performance of conservation agriculture (CA) has become a major issue due to growing concerns about global food security and sustainability. Numerous experiments have been conducted to assess the performance of CA under various local conditions, and meta-analysis has become a standard approach in agricultural sector for analysing and summarizing the experimental data. Meta-analysis provides valuable synthetic information based on mean effect size estimation. However, summarizing large amounts of information by way of a single mean effect value is not always satisfactory, especially when considering agricultural practices. Indeed, their impacts on crop yields are often non-linear, and vary widely depending on a number of factors, including soil properties and local climate conditions. To address this issue, here we present a machine learning approach to produce data-driven global maps describing the spatial distribution of the productivity of CA versus conventional tillage (CT). Our objective is to evaluate and compare several machine-learning models for their ability in estimating the productivity of CA systems, and to analyse uncertainty in the model outputs. We consider different usages, including classification, point regression and quantile regression. Our approach covers the comparison of 12 different machine learning algorithms, model training, tuning with cross-validation, testing, and global projection of results. The performances of these algorithms are compared based on a recent global dataset including more than 4,000 pairs of crop yield data for CA vs. CT. We show that random forest has the best performance in classification and regression, while quantile regression forest performs better than quantile neural networks in quantile regression. The best algorithms are used to map crop productivity of CA vs. CT at the global scale, and results reveal that the performance of CA vs. CT is characterized by a strong spatial variability, and that the probability of yield gain with CA is highly dependent on geographical locations. This result demonstrates that our approach is much more informative than simply presenting average effect sizes produced by standard meta-analyses, and paves the way for such probabilistic, spatially-explicit approaches in many other fields of research.
A Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of the European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Reveals Anomalies for Organelle DNA Integration, Repeat Content and Distribution of SNPs
Authors: Mishra Bagdevi , Ulaszewski Bartosz , Meger Joanna , Aury Jean-Marc , Bodénès Catherine , Lesur-Kupin Isabelle , Pfenninger Markus , Da Silva Corinne , Gupta Deepak K , Guichoux Erwan , Heer Katrin , Lalanne Céline , Labadie Karine , Opgenoorth Lars , Ploch Sebastian , Le Provost Grégoire , Salse Jérôme , Scotti Ivan , Wötzel Stefan , Plomion Christophe , Burczyk Jaroslaw , Thines Marco
Published: February 2022

The European Beech is the dominant climax tree in most regions of Central Europe and valued for its ecological versatility and hardwood timber. Even though a draft genome has been published recently, higher resolution is required for studying aspects of genome architecture and recombination. Here, we present a chromosome-level assembly of the more than 300 year-old reference individual, Bhaga, from the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park (Germany). Its nuclear genome of 541 Mb was resolved into 12 chromosomes varying in length between 28 and 73 Mb. Multiple nuclear insertions of parts of the chloroplast genome were observed, with one region on chromosome 11 spanning more than 2 Mb which fragments up to 54,784 bp long and covering the whole chloroplast genome were inserted randomly. Unlike in Arabidopsis thaliana, ribosomal cistrons are present in Fagus sylvatica only in four major regions, in line with FISH studies. On most assembled chromosomes, telomeric repeats were found at both ends, while centromeric repeats were found to be scattered throughout the genome apart from their main occurrence per chromosome. The genome-wide distribution of SNPs was evaluated using a second individual from Jamy Nature Reserve (Poland). SNPs, repeat elements and duplicated genes were unevenly distributed in the genomes, with one major anomaly on chromosome 4. The genome presented here adds to the available highly resolved plant genomes and we hope it will serve as a valuable basis for future research on genome architecture and for understanding the past and future of European Beech populations in a changing climate.
Screening and Verification of Molecular Markers and Genes Related to Salt-Alkali Tolerance in Portunus trituberculatus
Authors: Zhang Wen , Zhao Xiao Yan , Wu Jie , Jin Ling , Lv Jianjian , Gao Baoquan , Liu Ping
Published: February 2022

Salt-alkali tolerance is one of the important breeding traits of Portunus trituberculatus. Identification of molecular markers linked to salt-alkali tolerance is prerequisite to develop such molecular marker-assisted breeding. In this study, Bulked Segregant Analysis (BSA) was used to screen molecular markers associated with salt-alkali tolerance trait in P. trituberculatus. Two DNA mixing pools with significant difference in salt-alkali tolerance were prepared and 94.83G of high-quality sequencing data was obtained. 855 SNPs and 1051 Indels were firstly selected as candidate markers by BSA analysis, out of which, 20 markers were further selected via △index value (close to 0 or 1) and eight of those were successfully verified. In addition, based on the located information of the markers in genome, eight candidate genes related to salt-alkali tolerance were anchored including ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, aspartate–tRNA ligase, vesicle-trafficking protein, and so on. qPCR results showed that the expression patterns of all these genes changed significantly after salt-alkali stress, suggesting that they play certain roles in salt-alkali adaptation. Our results will provide applicable markers for molecular marker-assisted breeding and help to clarify the mechanisms of salt-alkali adaptation of P. trituberculatus.
Molecular and Phenotypic Expansion of Alström Syndrome in Chinese Patients
Authors: Zhang Qianwen , Ding Yu , Feng Biyun , Tang Yijun , Chen Yao , Wang Yirou , Chang Guoying , Liu Shijian , Wang Jian , Li Qian , Fu Lijun , Wang Xiumin
Published: February 2022

Alström syndrome (ALMS) is a rare inherited metabolic disease and ciliopathy. Large cohorts of ALMS are lacking around the world. Detailed genetic and phenotypic data were obtained from all affected individuals. Olfactory function was evaluated by the Chinese Smell Identification Test and facial pattern was analyzed with Face2gene. Fifty ALMS patients were included in this study, aged from 0.3 to 21.7 years old. Sixty-one ALMS1 variants in 50 patients from 47 different families were confirmed, including 59 truncating and two exon deletions. Twenty-four of those variants were novel. We also summarized all previously reported cases of Chinese ALMS patients (69 patients) and identified specific and common variants within the Chinese population. Besides, the Chinese Smell Identification Test scores in patients was lower than that in controls (11.97 Vs. 10.44, p < .05), indicating olfactory identification impairments in ALMS patients. The facial pattern in ALMS patients was also distinctive from that of the controls (p < .05). In conclusion, this is the largest cohort of Chinese ALMS patients. We have successfully identified both specific and common variants in our cohort. We found a new phenotype of olfactory impairments in ALMS patients through a case-control study.
Advances in CAR-T Cell Genetic Engineering Strategies to Overcome Hurdles in Solid Tumors Treatment
Authors: Andrea Alain E. , Chiron Andrada , Mallah Sarah , Bessoles Stéphanie , Sarrabayrouse Guillaume , Hacein-Bey-Abina Salima
Published: February 2022

During this last decade, adoptive transfer of T lymphocytes genetically modified to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) emerged as a valuable therapeutic strategy in hematological cancers. However, this immunotherapy has demonstrated limited efficacy in solid tumors. The main obstacle encountered by CAR-T cells in solid malignancies is the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME impedes tumor trafficking and penetration of T lymphocytes and installs an immunosuppressive milieu by producing suppressive soluble factors and by overexpressing negative immune checkpoints. In order to overcome these hurdles, new CAR-T cells engineering strategies were designed, to potentiate tumor recognition and infiltration and anti-cancer activity in the hostile TME. In this review, we provide an overview of the major mechanisms used by tumor cells to evade immune defenses and we critically expose the most optimistic engineering strategies to make CAR-T cell therapy a solid option for solid tumors.
Connecting the Dots: Transmission of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease From the Marquesas to the Dry Tortugas
Authors: Dobbelaere Thomas , Holstein Daniel M. , Muller Erinn M. , Gramer Lewis J. , McEachron Lucas , Williams Sara D. , Hanert Emmanuel
Published: February 2022

For the last 7 years, Florida’s Coral Reef (FCR) has suffered from widespread and severe coral loss caused by stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD). First observed off the coast of Miami-Dade county in 2014, the outbreak has since spread throughout the entirety of FCR and some areas of the Caribbean. However, the propagation of the disease through FCR seemed to slow down when it reached the western end of the Marquesas in August 2020. Despite being present about 30 km (∼20 miles) from the Dry Tortugas (DRTO), SCTLD was not reported in this area before May 2021. As SCTLD transmission is likely to be waterborne, here we suggest that this apparently delayed propagation is related to eddy activity near the DRTO under the influence of the Loop Current/Florida Current system. To quantify the impact of the local ocean circulation on the spread of SCTLD from the Marquesas and the DRTO, we evaluated the hydrodynamic-predicted connectivity between these two regions using a high-resolution hydro-epidemiological model between May 2018 and May 2021. Our results suggest that the Marquesas and the DRTO were not connected during February-October 2020 and January-May 2021. These periods coincided with either the occurrence of Tortugas gyres and mean circulation with an eastward component between the Marquesas and the DRTO or the presence of southward currents. Our results suggest that disease agents probably reached the DRTO in November 2020 and that they most likely originated from southern or northwestern reefs of the Marquesas. This study provides novel insight into the role played by the hydrodynamics in the spread of SCTLD within the western-most edge of FCR, and in propagating the disease to uninfected locations.
Transportability and Implementation Challenges of Early Warning Scores for Septic Shock in the ICU: A Perspective on the TREWScore
Authors: Niemantsverdriet Michael S. A. , Varkila Meri R. J. , Vromen-Wijsman Jacqueline L. P. , Hoefer Imo E. , Bellomo Domenico , van Vliet Martin H. , van Solinge Wouter W. , Cremer Olaf L. , Haitjema Saskia
Published: February 2022

The increased use of electronic health records (EHRs) has improved the availability of routine care data for medical research. Combined with machine learning techniques this has spurred the development of early warning scores (EWSs) in hospitals worldwide. EWSs are commonly used in the hospital where they have been developed, yet few have been transported to external settings and/or internationally. In this perspective, we describe our experiences in implementing the TREWScore, a septic shock EWS, and the transportability challenges regarding domain, predictors, and clinical outcome we faced. We used data of 53,330 ICU stays from Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-III (MIMIC-III) and 18,013 ICU stays from the University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht, including 17,023 (31.9%) and 2,557 (14.2%) cases of sepsis, respectively. The MIMIC-III and UMC populations differed significantly regarding the length of stay (6.9 vs. 9.0 days) and hospital mortality (11.6% vs. 13.6%). We mapped all 54 TREWScore predictors to the UMC database: 31 were readily available, seven required unit conversion, 14 had to be engineered, one predictor required text mining, and one predictor could not be mapped. Lastly, we classified sepsis cases for septic shock using the sepsis-2 criteria. Septic shock populations (UMC 31.3% and MIMIC-III 23.3%) and time to shock events showed significant differences between the two cohorts. In conclusion, we identified challenges to transportability and implementation regarding domain, predictors, and clinical outcome when transporting EWS between hospitals across two continents. These challenges need to be systematically addressed to improve model transportability between centers and unlock the potential clinical utility of EWS.
The Role of Glutathione-S Transferase in Psoriasis and Associated Comorbidities and the Effect of Dimethyl Fumarate in This Pathway
Authors: Campione Elena , Mazzilli Sara , Di Prete Monia , Dattola Annunziata , Cosio Terenzio , Lettieri Barbato Daniele , Costanza Gaetana , Lanna Caterina , Manfreda Valeria , Gaeta Schumak Ruslana , Prignano Francesca , Coniglione Filadelfo , Ciprani Fabrizio , Aquilano Katia , Bianchi Luca
Published: February 2022

Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by well-demarcated scaly plaques. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the psoriasis pathogenesis and is associated with the disease severity. Dimethyl fumarate modulates the activity of the pro-inflammatory transcription factors. This is responsible for the downregulation of inflammatory cytokines and an overall shift from a pro-inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory/regulatory response. Both steps are necessary for the amelioration of psoriatic inflammation, although additional mechanisms have been proposed. Several studies reported a long-term effectiveness and safety of dimethyl fumarate monotherapy in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Furthermore, psoriasis is a chronic disease often associated to metabolic comorbidities, as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, in which glutathione-S transferase deregulation is present. Glutathione-S transferase is involved in the antioxidant system. An increase of its activity in psoriatic epidermis in comparison with the uninvolved and normal epidermal biopsies has been reported. Dimethyl fumarate depletes glutathione-S transferase by formation of covalently linked conjugates. This review investigates the anti-inflammatory role of dimethyl fumarate in oxidative stress and its effect by reducing oxidative stress. The glutathione-S transferase regulation is helpful in treating psoriasis, with an anti-inflammatory effect on the keratinocytes hyperproliferation, and in modulation of metabolic comorbidities.
Mutation of MUC16 Is Associated With Tumor Mutational Burden and Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients With Gastric Cancer
Authors: Zhang Fengxiang , Li Xianzhe , Chen Huaxian , Guo Jianping , Xiong Zhizhong , Yin Shi , Jin Longyang , Chen Xijie , Luo Dandong , Tang Haijie , Mao Chaobin , Lian Lei
Published: February 2022

Background

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a critical factor in determining the prognosis of gastric cancer (GC), but its underlying mechanism remains unclear. The tumor mutational burden (TMB) has recently been recognized as a biomarker for predicting prognosis and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, while mucin 16, cell surface associated (MUC16) is frequently mutated in GC. This study explored whether MUC16 mutation status is associated with TMB, LNM, and prognosis in patients with GC.

Methods

Somatic mutation data were downloaded from three GC cohorts. TMB values were calculated and associations between the TMB and clinical characteristics were analyzed. The mutational landscapes of these three GC cohorts were individually explored and visualized using waterfall diagrams. Univariate logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were performed to screen for mutated genes associated with LNM and overall survival (OS). Associations between MUC16 mutations and TMB, microsatellite instability (MSI), LNM, and tumor microenvironment signatures were explored.

Results

TMB was associated with LNM and OS in patients with GC. Analyzing the three GC cohorts (The Cancer Genome Atlas-Stomach Adenocarcinoma, International Cancer Genome Consortium [ICGC]-China, and ICGC-Japan) revealed that MUC16 was one of the most frequently mutated genes in patients with GC. MUC16 mutations were associated with better prognosis, including lower LNM rates and improved OS rates. In addition, MUC16 mutation status was associated with TMB and MSI statuses. Fifteen upregulated and 222 downregulated genes were identified in patients with MUC16 mutations, compared to in those in patients with wild-type MUC16. An altered tumor microenvironment signature was also identified in GC samples with MUC16 mutations; it was characterized by significantly decreased infiltration regarding stromal cells, CD4+ T cells, and macrophages.

Conclusion

MUC16 mutation status was associated with TMB, microsatellite status, LNM, and survival in patients with GC. These findings may provide new insights into the mechanism of LNM and could act as a signpost for prognostic predictions and immunotherapy guidance for patients with GC.
One Health Paradigm to Confront Zoonotic Health Threats: A Pakistan Prospective
Authors: Yasmeen Nafeesa , Jabbar Abdul , Shah Taif , Fang Liang-xing , Aslam Bilal , Naseeb Iqra , Shakeel Faiqa , Ahmad Hafiz Ishfaq , Baloch Zulqarnain , Liu Yahong
Published: February 2022

The emergence and re-emergence of zoonotic diseases significantly impact human health, particularly those who live in impoverished areas and have close contact with domestic or wild animals. Nearly 75% of zoonotic diseases are transmitted directly from animals to humans or indirectly via vector/agent interactions between animals and humans. Growing populations, globalization, urbanization, and the interaction of the environment with humans and livestock all play roles in the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases. “One Health” is a multidisciplinary concept aimed at improving human, animal, and environmental health, but this concept is not widely accepted in developing countries. In Pakistan, environmental, human, and animal health are severely affected due to a lack of sufficient resources. This review article provides an overview of the most common zoonotic diseases found in Pakistan and emphasizes the importance of the “One Health” concept in managing these diseases. Given the current situation, interdisciplinary research efforts are required to implement and sustain effective and long-term control measures in animal, human, and environmental health surveillance and accurate diagnostic methods.
Methicillin- and Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus From Humans and Ready-To-Eat Meat: Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance and Biofilm Formation Ability
Authors: Saber Taisir , Samir Mohamed , El-Mekkawy Rasha M. , Ariny Eman , El-Sayed Sara Ramadan , Enan Gamal , Abdelatif Sawasn H. , Askora Ahmed , Merwad Abdallah M. A. , Tartor Yasmine H.
Published: February 2022

Methicillin-resistant and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA and VRSA) are zoonotic life-threatening pathogens, and their presence in food raises a public health concern. Yet, scarce data are available regarding MRSA and VRSA in both ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and food handlers. This study was undertaken to determine the frequency, antimicrobial resistance, and biofilm-forming ability of MRSA and VRSA isolated from RTE meat (shawarma and burger) and humans (food handlers, and hospitalized patients) in Zagazig city, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. We analyzed 176 samples (112 human samples: 72 from hospitalized patients and 40 from food handlers, 64 RTE meat samples: 38 from shawarma and 26 from burger). Using phenotypic, PCR-based identification of nuc gene and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), 60 coagulase-positive S. aureus (COPS) isolates were identified in the samples as follow: RTE meat (15/64, 23.4%), hospitalized patients (33/72, 45.8%) and food handlers (12/40, 30%). All the COPS isolates were mecA positive (and thus were classified as MRSA) and multidrug resistant with multiple antibiotic resistance indices ranging from 0.25 to 0.92. Overall, resistance to cefepime (96.7%), penicillin (88.3%), were common, followed by ampicillin-sulbactam (65%), ciprofloxacin (55%), nitrofurontoin (51.7%), and gentamicin (43.3%). VRSA was detected in 30.3% of COPS hospitalized patient’s isolates, 26.7% of COPS RTE meat isolates and 25% of COPS food handler’s isolates. VanA, vanB, or both genes were detected in 64.7, 5.9, and 29.4% of all VAN-resistant isolates, respectively. The majority of the COPS isolates (50/60, 83.3%) have biofilm formation ability and harbored icaA (76%), icaD (74%), icaC (50%), and icaB (46%) biofilm-forming genes. The bap gene was not detected in any of the isolates. The ability of MRSA and VRSA isolates to produce biofilms in addition to being resistant to antimicrobials highlight the danger posed by these potentially virulent microorganisms persisting in RTE meat, food handlers, and patients. Taken together, good hygiene practices and antimicrobial surveillance plans should be strictly implemented along the food chain to reduce the risk of colonization and dissemination of MRSA and VRSA biofilm-producing strains.
SEEG in 3D: Interictal Source Localization From Intracerebral Recordings
Authors: Satzer David , Esengul Yasar T. , Warnke Peter C. , Issa Naoum P. , Nordli Douglas R.
Published: February 2022

Background

Stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) uses a three-dimensional configuration of depth electrodes to localize epileptiform activity, but traditional analysis of SEEG is spatially restricted to the point locations of the electrode contacts. Interpolation of brain activity between contacts might allow for three-dimensional representation of epileptiform activity and avoid pitfalls of SEEG interpretation.

Objective

The goal of this study was to validate SEEG-based interictal source localization and assess the ability of this technique to monitor far-field activity in non-implanted brain regions.

Methods

Interictal epileptiform discharges were identified on SEEG in 26 patients who underwent resection, ablation, or disconnection of the suspected epileptogenic zone. Dipoles without (free) and with (scan) gray matter restriction, and current density (sLORETA and SWARM methods), were calculated using a finite element head model. Source localization results were compared to the conventional irritative zone (IZ) and the surgical treatment volumes (TV) of seizure-free vs. non-seizure-free patients.

Results

The median distance from dipole solutions to the nearest contact in the conventional IZ was 7 mm (interquartile range 4–15 mm for free dipoles and 4–14 mm for scan dipoles). The IZ modeled with SWARM predicted contacts within the conventional IZ with 83% (75–100%) sensitivity and 94% (88–100%) specificity. The proportion of current within the TV was greater in seizure-free patients (P = 0.04) and predicted surgical outcome with 45% sensitivity and 93% specificity. Dipole solutions and sLORETA results did not correlate with seizure outcome. Addition of scalp EEG led to more superficial modeled sources (P = 0.03) and negated the ability to predict seizure outcome (P = 0.23). Removal of near-field data from contacts within the TV resulted in smearing of the current distribution (P = 0.007) and precluded prediction of seizure freedom (P = 0.20).

Conclusions

Source localization accurately represented interictal discharges from SEEG. The proportion of current within the TV distinguished between seizure-free and non-seizure-free patients when near-field recordings were obtained from the surgical target. The high prevalence of deep sources in this cohort likely obscured any benefit of concurrent scalp EEG. SEEG-based interictal source localization is useful in illustrating and corroborating the epileptogenic zone. Additional techniques are needed to localize far-field epileptiform activity from non-implanted brain regions.
A Modified Microscopic-Endoscopic Bilateral Transseptal Approach for Pituitary Adenomas: Comparisons of Nasal Outcome and Quality of Life Using the Microscopic Transnasal Approach
Authors: Zhong Junjie , Gu Yanfang , Zheng Jie , Yang Bojie , Qi Zengxin , Li Tianwen , Shen Chao , Shi Zhifeng
Published: February 2022

Objectives

In this study, we introduced a novel modified microscopic-endoscopic bilateral transseptal approach for pituitary adenoma resection to minimize surgery-related nasal injury. We also retrospectively compared comprehensive nasal outcomes and quality of life between the microscopic transnasal approaches.

Methods

Patients with pituitary adenomas who underwent modified microscopic-endoscopic bilateral transseptal or microscopic transnasal approaches were assessed for olfactory function and quality of life using the Sniffin’ Sticks test, the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22), the SF-36, the anterior skull base (ASK) nasal inventory, and the subjective visual analog scale (VAS) before and 1 and 3 months after surgery. A nasal endoscopy procedure was also performed to evaluate structure abnormalities at 1 and 3 months after surgery.

Results

Fifty-eight patients who underwent either modified microscopic-endoscopic bilateral transseptal (35 patients) or microscopic transnasal (23 patients) surgery were consecutively enrolled. Patients who underwent either transnasal approach experienced similar surgical complications, except for intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage (43.5% vs 14.3% for modified microscopic-endoscopic bilateral transseptal or microscopic transnasal approach, respectively; p = 0.013). Patients who underwent the two approaches fully recovered according to the SF-36, SNOT-22, VAS, and Sniffin’ Sticks surveys, but not ASK scores, 3 months post-operatively. There was no significant difference in nasal endoscopy outcome at 3 months follow-up between the two approaches.

Conclusions

The modified microscopic-endoscopic bilateral transseptal approach showed largely similar nasal mucosa protective outcomes to those of the microscopic transnasal approach for pituitary adenoma surgery. After pituitary adenoma resection using the modified approach, patients’ postoperative olfactory function, nasal structure, and quality of life can be restored to preoperative status within 3 months.