bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of a new lyoprotectant increasing freeze-dried Lactobacillus strain survival to long-term storage
Authors: Bodzen Aurore , Jossier Audrey , Dupont Sébastien , Mousset Pierre-Yves , Beney Laurent , Lafay Sophie , Gervais Patrick
Published: November 2021

Background

Stabilization of freeze-dried lactic acid bacteria during long-term storage is challenging for the food industry. Water activity of the lyophilizates is clearly related to the water availability and maintaining a low aw during storage allows to increase bacteria viability. The aim of this study was to achieve a low water activity after freeze-drying and subsequently during long-term storage through the design of a lyoprotectant. Indeed, for the same water content as sucrose (commonly used lyoprotectant), water activity is lower for some components such as whey, micellar casein or inulin. We hypothesized that the addition of these components in a lyoprotectant, with a higher bound water content than sucrose would improve lactobacilli strains survival to long-term storage. Therefore, in this study, 5% whey (w/v), 5% micellar casein (w/v) or 5% inulin (w/v) were added to a 5% sucrose solution (w/v) and compared with a lyoprotectant only composed of 5% sucrose (w/v). Protective effect of the four lyoprotectants was assessed measuring Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CNCM I-4459 survival and water activity after freeze-drying and during 9 months storage at 25 °C.

Results

The addition whey and inulin were not effective in increasing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CNCM I-4459 survival to long-term-storage (4 log reduction at 9 months storage). However, the addition of micellar casein to sucrose increased drastically the protective effect of the lyoprotectant (3.6 log i.e. 0.4 log reduction at 9 months storage). Comparing to a lyoprotectant containing whey or inulin, a lyoprotectant containing micellar casein resulted in a lower water activity after freeze-drying and its maintenance during storage (0.13 ± 0.05).

Conclusions

The addition of micellar casein to a sucrose solution, contrary to the addition of whey and inulin, resulted in a higher bacterial viability to long-term storage. Indeed, for the same water content as the others lyoprotectants, a significant lower water activity was obtained with micellar casein during storage. Probably due to high bound water content of micellar casein, less water could be available for chemical degradation reactions, responsible for bacterial damages during long-term storage. Therefore, the addition of this component to a sucrose solution could be an effective strategy for dried bacteria stabilization during long-term storage.
“It was one of those complicated cases”: health practitioners’ perspectives and practices of providing end-of-life care for people with profound intellectual and multiple disability
Authors: Voss Hille , Loxton April , Anderson Julie , Watson Joanne
Published: November 2021

Background

Due to developments in health and social care, people with profound intellectual and multiple disability (PIMD) are living longer than ever before, meaning they are increasingly experiencing life-threatening health conditions requiring palliative care. Little is known about providing end-of-life care for people with PIMD. The aim of this study was to explore health practitioners’ perspectives and practices relating to end-of-life decision-making and planning for people with PIMD.

Methods

Seven in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with health practitioners employed in a range of hospital and community services throughout Melbourne, Australia. Questions were designed to gather information about their experience, perceptions, and attitudes relating to people with PIMD during and at the end of their life. Each interview, ranging from 40 to 60 min in length, was audio recorded and transcribed. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.

Results

Four main themes emerged: limited participation, bias, dignity, and quality of death. Health practitioners indicated that people with PIMD are frequently excluded from participating in decision-making related to end-of-life care. Participants discussed reasons for this exclusion including challenges with communication and cognition. Participants reported a need for additional support and guidance in providing care for people with PIMD at the end of life. Professional and family bias played a role in end-of-life decision-making for people with PIMD. Participants reported a disproportional focus by palliative care practitioners on physical as opposed to emotional and spiritual well-being for patients with PIMD at the end of life. Finally, participants reported that people with PIMD generally did not die in specialised palliative care settings, but in segregated supported living environments.

Conclusions

Due to negative perceptions of a person with PIMD’s decision-making capacity, people with PIMD are likely to be assessed as unable to express choice and preference regarding end-of-life care and are offered limited opportunity to be involved in their own end-of-life care. This research provides guidance for the development of training and professional development relating to people with PIMD at the end of life. It is hoped that this will increase the accessibility of end-of-life services for people with PIMD, ensuring that a respectful and dignified death can be a reality for all humankind regardless of disability.
Bayesian network-based missing mechanism identification (BN-MMI) method in medical research
Authors: Yue Tingyan , Zhang Tao
Published: November 2021

Background

Traditional approaches to identify missing mechanisms are usually based on the hypothesis test and confronted with both theoretical and practical challenges. It has been proved that the Bayesian network is powerful in integrating, analyzing and visualizing information, and some previous researches have verified the promising features of Bayesian network to deal with the aforementioned challenges in missing mechanism identification. Based on the above reasons, this paper explores the application of Bayesian network to the identification of missing mechanisms for the first time, and proposes a new method, the Bayesian network-based missing mechanism identification (BN-MMI) method, to identify missing mechanism in medical research.

Methods

The procedure of BN-MMI method consists three easy-to-implement steps: estimating the missing data structure by the Bayesian network; assessing the credibility of the estimated missing data structure; and identifying the missing mechanism from the estimated missing data structure. The BN-MMI method is verified by simulation research and empirical research.

Results

The simulation study verified the validity, consistency and robustness of BN-MMI method, and indicated its outperformance in contrast to the traditional logistic regression method. In addition, the empirical study illustrated the applicability of BN-MMI method in the real world by an example of medical record data.

Conclusions

It was confirmed that the BN-MMI method itself, together with human knowledge and expertise, could identify the missing mechanisms according to the probabilistic dependence/independence relations among variables of interest. At the same time, our research shed light upon the potential application of BN-MMI method to a broader range of missing data issues in medical studies.
Fermentation quality of herbal tea residue and its application in fattening cattle under heat stress
Authors: Zhuang Xiaona , Chen Zujing , Sun Xiaohong , Li Fangjun , Luo Junyi , Chen Ting , Xi Qianyun , Zhang Yongliang , Sun Jiajie
Published: November 2021

Background

Herbal tea residue (HTR) is generally considered to be the waste of herbal tea beverage production while it still retains rich nutrients and active substances. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of fermentation technology on improving the quality of HTRs, and focus on the fermented HTR-induced alleviation of summer heat stress in fattening cattle.

Results

In this study, the waste HTR was fermented and then fed to a total of 45 fattening cattle that were divided into 3 groups (fermented HTR replaced 0, 15, 30% of the forage component of the diet), and the feeding experiment was lasted for 40 days. The physiological indexes, growth performance and fecal microbiota of fattening cattle were evaluated and results showed that fermented HTR could effectively reduce the respiratory rate and rectal temperature of fattening cattle under heat stress, increase the daily feed intake and daily gain, and improve the antioxidant content and blood immune index. In addition, we studied the fecal microbiota composition of 6 fattening cattle in control and 30% HTR substitution groups and found fermented HTR significantly changed the composition of fecal microbiota and increased microbial diversity, and correlation analysis suggested that the bacteria were closely related to fecal SCFA levels of fattening cattle under heat stress.

Conclusions

In this study, fermented HTR replaced 30% of the forage component of the diet that can change the intestine microorganisms, maintain health and alleviate the heat stress of fattening cattle.
Analysis of genetic variation in human papillomavirus type 16 E1 and E2 in women with cervical infection in Xinjiang, China
Authors: Wang Luyue , Wang Fang , Fu Shaowei , Zhang Chunhe , Zhe Xiangyi , Li Hongtao , Li Dongmei , Shao Renfu , Pan Zemin
Published: November 2021

Background

Xinjiang is one of the regions with a high incidence of cervical cancer, and the genetic variation of human papillomavirus may increase its ability to infect the human body and enhance virus-mediated immune escape ability.

Methods

Sanger sequencing of the HPV16 genome from 165 samples positive for HPV16 infection and phylogenetic analysis of the E1 and E2 genes revealed the gene polymorphism of HPV16 in Xinjiang.

Results

The results showed that there were 109 samples with variations in HPV16 E1, 48 sites with nucleotide variations (19 missense variations and 29 synonymous variations), and 91 samples with variations in HPV16 E2, 25 sites with nucleotide variations (20 missense variations and five synonymous variations).

Conclusions

From the phylogenetic tree results, 149 samples were of the European variant and 16 samples were of the Asian variant. No African or North American/Asian variant types were found.
Self-management behavior and fasting plasma glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus over 60 years old: multiple effects of social support on quality of life
Authors: Qi Xinye , Xu Jiao , Chen Guiying , Liu Huan , Liu Jingjing , Wang Jiahui , Zhang Xin , Hao Yanhua , Wu Qunhong , Jiao Mingli
Published: November 2021

Objective

Elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are highly vulnerable due to severe complications. However, there is a contradiction in the relationship between social support and quality of life, which warrants further exploration of the internal mechanism. This study assessed the quality of life and its interfering factors in this patient population.

Methods

In total, 571 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus over 60 years old were recruited from two community clinics in Heilongjiang Province, China. We collected data on health status, quality of life, self-management behavior, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level, and social support. Structural equation modeling and the bootstrap method were used to analyze the data.

Results

The average quality of life score was − 29.25 ± 24.41. Poorly scored domains of quality of life were “Psychological feeling” (− 8.67), “Activity” (− 6.36), and “Emotion” (− 6.12). Of the 571 patients, 65.32% had normal FPG, 9.8% had high-risk FPG, 15.94% had good self-management behavior, and 22.07% had poor social support. Significant correlations among social support, self-management behavior, FPG level, and quality of life were noted. A multiple mediator model revealed that social support influenced quality of life in three ways: (1) directly (c′ = 0.6831); (2) indirectly through self-management behavior (a1*b1 = 0.1773); and (3) indirectly through FPG control (a2*b2 = 0.1929). Self-management behavior influenced the quality of life directly and indirectly through FPG control.

Conclusion

Improving self-management behavior and monitoring hypoglycemia should become priority targets for future intervention. Scheduled social support to self-management projects should be put into the standardized management procedure. Physicians should provide substantial and individualized support to the elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus regarding medication, blood glucose monitoring, and physical exercise.
Remotely sensed estimation of total iron content in soil with harmonic analysis and BP neural network
Authors: Jiang Xueqin , Luo Shanjun , Fang Shenghui , Cai Bowen , Xiong Qiang , Wang Yanyan , Huang Xia , Liu Xiaojuan
Published: November 2021

Background

The estimation of total iron content at the regional scale is of much significance as iron deficiency has become a routine problem for many crops.

Methods

In this study, a novel method for estimating total iron content in soil (TICS) was proposed using harmonic analysis (HA) and back propagation (BP) neural network model. Several data preprocessing methods of first derivative (FD), wavelet packet transform (WPT), and HA were conducted to improve the correlation between the soil spectra and TICS. The principal component analysis (PCA) was exploited to obtained three kinds of characteristic variables (FD, WPT-FD, and WPT-FD-HA) for TICS estimation. Furthermore, the estimated accuracy of three BP models based on these variables was compared.

Results

The results showed that the BP models of different soil types based on WPT-FD-HA had better estimation accuracy, with the highest R2 value of 0.95, and the RMSE of 0.68 for the loessial soil. It was proved that the characteristic variable obtained by harmonic decomposition improved the validity of the input variables and the estimation accuracy of the TICS models. Meanwhile, it was identified that the WPT-FD-HA-BP model can not only estimate the total iron content of a single soil type with high accuracy but also demonstrate a good effect on the estimation of TICS of mixed soil.

Conclusion

The HA method and BP neural network combined with WPT and FD have great potential in TICS estimation under the conditions of single soil and mixed soil. This method can be expected to be applied to the prediction of crop biochemical parameters.
“That’s the whole thing about vaping, it’s custom tasty goodness”: a meta-ethnography of young adults’ perceptions and experiences of e-cigarette use
Authors: Ranjit Ananth , McCutchan Grace , Brain Katherine , Poole Ria
Published: November 2021

Background

E-cigarettes are increasing in popularity, particularly among young adults. With public health organisations contesting the possible benefits of e-cigarettes, research is required to explore young adults’ use of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation and recreational tool. This study examined existing qualitative data to understand how transition into adulthood and issues of identity affect young adults’ perceptions and experiences of e-cigarette use.

Methods

A meta-ethnography was conducted to examine how young adults perceive and use e-cigarettes. Data were synthesised using Noblit and Hare’s (1988) meta-ethnographic approach. Bronfenbrenner’s socio-ecological model (1979) was used to conceptualise themes and map findings.

Results

A total of 34 studies were included in the review. Young adults viewed e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to traditional cigarette smoking and perceived e-cigarettes as an effective cessation tool. Users were able to personalise their e-cigarette use due to the variety of flavours and devices available. E-cigarettes were found to be a sociable tool as they allowed users to align themselves with their peers who used e-cigarettes and facilitated use within smoke-free environments. Young adults demonstrated high levels of self-efficacy with regards to obtaining e-cigarettes from various retailers and were active consumers of e-cigarette marketing.

Conclusion

This meta-ethnography provides an in-depth insight into social norms around e-cigarette use and beliefs that e-cigarettes could be a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. As young adults increasingly engage with e-cigarettes, there is a need for informed policy decisions regarding appropriate use. Engagement with e-cigarettes is often reflected within social media, so this medium could be a key platform for creating tailored interventions which inform young adults about the appropriate use of these products.
Small molecule inhibitors of α-synuclein oligomers identified by targeting early dopamine-mediated motor impairment in C. elegans
Authors: Chen Kevin S. , Menezes Krystal , Rodgers Jarlath B. , O’Hara Darren M. , Tran Nhat , Fujisawa Kazuko , Ishikura Seiya , Khodaei Shahin , Chau Hien , Cranston Anna , Kapadia Minesh , Pawar Grishma , Ping Susan , Krizus Aldis , Lacoste Alix , Spangler Scott , Visanji Naomi P. , Marras Connie , Majbour Nour K. , El-Agnaf Omar M. A. , Lozano Andres M. , Culotti Joseph , Suo Satoshi , Ryu William S. , Kalia Suneil K. , Kalia Lorraine V.
Published: November 2021

Background

Parkinson’s disease is a disabling neurodegenerative movement disorder characterized by dopaminergic neuron loss induced by α-synuclein oligomers. There is an urgent need for disease-modifying therapies for Parkinson’s disease, but drug discovery is challenged by lack of in vivo models that recapitulate early stages of neurodegeneration. Invertebrate organisms, such as the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans, provide in vivo models of human disease processes that can be instrumental for initial pharmacological studies.

Methods

To identify early motor impairment of animals expressing α-synuclein in dopaminergic neurons, we first used a custom-built tracking microscope that captures locomotion of single C. elegans with high spatial and temporal resolution. Next, we devised a method for semi-automated and blinded quantification of motor impairment for a population of simultaneously recorded animals with multi-worm tracking and custom image processing. We then used genetic and pharmacological methods to define the features of early motor dysfunction of α-synuclein-expressing C. elegans. Finally, we applied the C. elegans model to a drug repurposing screen by combining it with an artificial intelligence platform and cell culture system to identify small molecules that inhibit α-synuclein oligomers. Screen hits were validated using in vitro and in vivo mammalian models.

Results

We found a previously undescribed motor phenotype in transgenic α-synuclein C. elegans that correlates with mutant or wild-type α-synuclein protein levels and results from dopaminergic neuron dysfunction, but precedes neuronal loss. Together with artificial intelligence-driven in silico and in vitro screening, this C. elegans model identified five compounds that reduced motor dysfunction induced by α-synuclein. Three of these compounds also decreased α-synuclein oligomers in mammalian neurons, including rifabutin which has not been previously investigated for Parkinson’s disease. We found that treatment with rifabutin reduced nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurodegeneration due to α-synuclein in a rat model.

Conclusions

We identified a C. elegans locomotor abnormality due to dopaminergic neuron dysfunction that models early α-synuclein-mediated neurodegeneration. Our innovative approach applying this in vivo model to a multi-step drug repurposing screen, with artificial intelligence-driven in silico and in vitro methods, resulted in the discovery of at least one drug that may be repurposed as a disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson’s disease.
Auditory-cognitive training for adult cochlear implant recipients: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Lawrence Blake J. , Eikelboom Robert H. , Jayakody Dona M. P.
Published: November 2021

Background

There is an urgent need to develop new therapies to improve cognitive function in adults following cochlear implant surgery. This study aims to determine if completing at-home computer-based brain training activities improve memory and thinking skills in adults following their first cochlear implant.

Methods

This study will be conducted as a single-blind, head-to-head, randomised controlled trial (RCT). It will determine whether auditory training combined with adaptive computerised cognitive training will elicit greater improvement in cognition, sound and speech perception, mood, and quality of life outcomes in adult cochlear implant recipients, when compared to auditory training combined with non-adaptive (i.e. placebo) computerised cognitive training. Participants 18 years or older who meet the clinical criteria for a cochlear implant will be recruited into the study.

Results

The results of this trial will clarify whether the auditory training combined with cognitive training will improve cognition, sound and speech perception, mood, and quality of life outcomes in adult cochlear implant recipients.

Discussion

We anticipate that our findings will have implications for clinical practice in the treatment of adult cochlear implant recipients.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12619000609156. Registered on April 23 2019.
Zika virus and temperature modulate Elizabethkingia anophelis in Aedes albopictus
Authors: Onyango Maria G. , Lange Rachel , Bialosuknia Sean , Payne Anne , Mathias Nicholas , Kuo Lili , Vigneron Aurelien , Nag Dilip , Kramer Laura D. , Ciota Alexander T.
Published: November 2021

Background

Vector-borne pathogens must survive and replicate in the hostile environment of an insect’s midgut before successful dissemination. Midgut microbiota interfere with pathogen infection by activating the basal immunity of the mosquito and by synthesizing pathogen-inhibitory metabolites.

Methods

The goal of this study was to assess the influence of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection and increased temperature on Aedes albopictus midgut microbiota. Aedes albopictus were reared at diurnal temperatures of day 28 °C/night 24 °C (L) or day 30 °C/night 26 °C (M). The mosquitoes were given infectious blood meals with 2.0 × 108 PFU/ml ZIKV, and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed on midguts at 7 days post-infectious blood meal exposure.

Results

Our findings demonstrate that Elizabethkingia anophelis albopictus was associated with Ae. albopictus midguts exposed to ZIKV infectious blood meal. We observed a negative correlation between ZIKV and E. anophelis albopictus in the midguts of Ae. albopictus. Supplemental feeding of Ae. albopictus with E. anophelis aegypti and ZIKV resulted in reduced ZIKV infection rates. Reduced viral loads were detected in Vero cells that were sequentially infected with E. anophelis aegypti and ZIKV, dengue virus (DENV), or chikungunya virus (CHIKV).

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate the influence of ZIKV infection and temperature on the Ae. albopictus microbiome along with a negative correlation between ZIKV and E. anophelis albopictus. Our results have important implications for controlling vector-borne pathogens.

Graphical Abstract
Assessing the viability of Legionella pneumophila in environmental samples: regarding the filter application of Ethidium Monoazide Bromide
Authors: Consonni Michela , Grassi Anna , Scuri Stefania , Gori Maria , Tanzi Elisabetta , Tesauro Marina
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Analyses of 34 water samples from 13 healthcare structures revealed how culture method and quantitative PCR (qPCR) often differ in the detection ofLegionella pneumophila(Lp). With these considerations in hand, culture method, PCR and Ethidium Monoazide Bromide (EMA) qPCR have all been compared in order to detectLpin water samples, identify a method able to speed up the procedures, detect the “viable but not cultivable” bacteria (VBNC) and exclude non-viable bacteria using a commercial kit for extraction and amplification as well as modification of the protocol.

Methods

Pure water samples artificially spiked with viable, non-viable and VBNCLpATCC 33152 were analyzed using a commercial kit for both qPCR and EMA-qPCR, while ISO 11731-2-2004 was used for culture method.

Results

Only 35% (12/34) of the environmental samples were positive in both culture and qPCR methods. With regard to EMA-qPCR, results showed the absence of dye toxicity on viable and VBNC strains and an incomplete effectiveness on the non-viable ones. In both viable and VBNC strains, a decrease of bacterial DNA amplification was recorded as a function of sample dilution but not of EMA concentration.

Conclusions

Discrepancies between culture method and EMA-qPCR were observed and may be due to different causes such as membrane-dye interactions, presence of interfering compounds and the sensitivity of the kit used.

Study significance and impact

In the presence of one or more suspected cases of nosocomial legionellosis, the application of a rapid molecular method able to identify only the viable and VBNCLpwould be useful in order to quickly identify the source of infection and to intervene with sanitation treatments. However, seeing that in our experience EMA pretreatment on the filter membrane did not come up with the expected results, it would be necessary to proceed with other experiments and/or different dyes.

Graphical Abstract
Umbilical cord blood plasma-derived exosomes as a novel therapy to reverse liver fibrosis
Authors: Huang Yu-Jen , Cao Jerry , Lee Chih-Yuan , Wu Yao-Ming
Published: November 2021

Background

Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease whereby scar tissue replaces healthy liver parenchyma, leading to disruption of the liver architecture and hepatic dysfunction. Currently, there is no effective disease-modifying therapy for liver fibrosis. Recently, our group demonstrated that human umbilical cord blood (UCB) plasma possesses therapeutic effects in a rat model of acute liver failure.

Methods

In the current study, we tested whether exosomes (Exo) existed in UCB plasma and if they produced any antifibrotic benefits in a liver fibrosis model.

Results

Our results showed that UCB-Exo improved liver function and increased matrix metalloproteinase/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase degradation to reduce the degree of fibrosis. Moreover, UCB-Exo were found to suppress hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activity in vitro. These effects were associated with suppression of transforming growth factor-β/inhibitor of DNA binding 1 signaling.

Conclusions

These results further support that UCB-Exo have antifibrotic effects in mice with liver fibrosis and activated HSCs and may herald a new cell-free antifibrotic therapy.
Research on multi-sensor information fusion and intelligent optimization algorithm and related topics of mobile robots
Authors: Guo Yuan , Fang Xiaoyan , Dong Zhenbiao , Mi Honglin
Published: November 2021

Research on mobile robots began in the late 1960s. Mobile robots are a typical autonomous intelligent system and a hot spot in the high-tech field. They are the intersection of multiple technical disciplines such as computer artificial intelligence, robotics, control theory and electronic technology. The product not only has potentially very attractive application value and commercial value, but the research on it is also a challenge to intelligent technology. The development of mobile robots provides excellent research for various intelligent technologies and solutions. This dissertation aims to study the research of multi-sensor information fusion and intelligent optimization methods and the methods of applying them to mobile robot related technologies, and in-depth study of the construction of mobile robot maps from the perspective of multi-sensor information fusion. And, in order to achieve this function, combined with autonomous exploration and other related theories and algorithms, combined with the Robot Operating System (ROS). This paper proposes the area equalization method, equalization method, fuzzy neural network and other methods to promote the realization of related technologies. At the same time, this paper conducts simulation research based on the SLAM comprehensive experiment of the JNPF-4WD square mobile robot. On this basis, the high precision and high reliability of robot positioning are further realized. The experimental results in this paper show that the maximum error of the X-axis and Y-axis, FastSLAM algorithm is smaller than EKF algorithm, and the improved FASTSALM algorithm error is further reduced compared with the original FastSLAM algorithm, the value is less than 0.1.
The genus Entomophthora: bringing the insect destroyers into the twenty-first century
Authors: Elya Carolyn , De Fine Licht Henrik H.
Published: November 2021

The fungal genus Entomophthora consists of highly host-specific pathogens that cause deadly epizootics in their various insect hosts. The most well-known among these is the “zombie fly” fungus E. muscae, which, like other Entomophthora species, elicits a series of dramatic behaviors in infected hosts to promote optimal spore dispersal. Despite having been first described more than 160 years ago, there are still many open questions about Entomophthora biology, including the molecular underpinnings of host behavior manipulation and host specificity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of our current understanding of the biology of Entomophthora fungi and enumerates the most pressing outstanding questions that should be addressed in the field. We briefly review the discovery of Entomophthora and provide a summary of the 21 recognized Entomophthora species, including their type hosts, methods of transmission (ejection of spores after or before host death), and for which molecular data are available. Further, we argue that this genus is globally distributed, based on a compilation of Entomophthora records in the literature and in online naturalist databases, and likely to contain additional species. Evidence for strain-level specificity of hosts is summarized and directly compared to phylogenies of Entomophthora and the class Insecta. A detailed description of Entomophthora’s life-cycle and observed manipulated behaviors is provided and used to summarize a consensus for ideal growth conditions. We discuss evidence for Entomophthora’s adaptation to growth exclusively inside insects, such as producing wall-less hyphal bodies and a unique set of subtilisin-like proteases to penetrate the insect cuticle. However, we are only starting to understand the functions of unusual molecular and genomic characteristics, such as having large > 1 Gb genomes full of repetitive elements and potential functional diploidy. We argue that the high host-specificity and obligate life-style of most Entomophthora species provides ample scope for having been shaped by close coevolution with insects despite the current general lack of such evidence. Finally, we propose six major directions for future Entomophthora research and in doing so hope to provide a foundation for future studies of these fungi and their interaction with insects.
Localizing microseismic events on field data using a U-Net-based convolutional neural network trained on synthetic data
Authors: Vinard N. A. , Drijkoningen G. G. , Verschuur D. J.
Published: November 2021

Hydraulic fracturing (HF) plays an important role when it comes to the extraction of resources in unconventional reservoirs. The microseismic activity arising during HF operations needs to be monitored to improve productivity and to make decisions about mitigation measures. Recently, deep-learning methods have been investigated to localize earthquakes given field-data waveforms as input. For optimal results, these methods require large field data sets that cover the entire region of interest. In practice, such data sets often are scarce. To overcome this shortcoming, we have initially used a (large) synthetic data set with full waveforms to train a U-Net that reconstructs the source location as a 3D Gaussian distribution. As a field data set for our study, we use data recorded during HF operations in Texas. Synthetic waveforms are modeled using a velocity model from the site that is also used for a conventional diffraction-stacking (DS) approach. To increase the U-Nets’ ability to localize seismic events, we augment the synthetic data with different techniques, including the addition of field noise. We select the best performing U-Net using 22 events that have previously been identified to be confidently localized by DS and apply that U-Net to all 1245 events. We compare our predicted locations to DS and the DS locations refined by a relative location (DSRL) method. The U-Net-based locations are better constrained in depth compared to DS and the mean hypocenter difference with respect to DSRL locations is 163 m. This indicates potential for the use of synthetic data to complement or replace field data for training. Furthermore, after training, the method returns the source locations in near real time given the full waveforms, alleviating the need to pick arrival times.
Unsupervised deep learning with higher-order total-variation regularization for multidimensional seismic data reconstruction
Authors: Larsen Greiner Thomas André , Lie Jan Erik , Kolbjørnsen Odd , Kjelsrud Evensen Andreas , Harris Nilsen Espen , Zhao Hao , Demyanov Vasily , Gelius Leiv-J.
Published: November 2021

In 3D marine seismic acquisition, the seismic wavefield is not sampled uniformly in the spatial directions. This leads to a seismic wavefield consisting of irregularly and sparsely populated traces with large gaps between consecutive sail lines, especially in the near offsets. The problem of reconstructing the complete seismic wavefield from a subsampled and incomplete wavefield is formulated as an underdetermined inverse problem. We have investigated unsupervised deep learning based on a convolutional neural network for multidimensional wavefield reconstruction of irregularly populated traces defined on a regular grid. Our network is based on an encoder-decoder architecture with an overcomplete latent representation, including appropriate regularization penalties to stabilize the solution. We proposed a combination of penalties, which consists of the [Formula: see text]-norm penalty on the network parameters, and a first- and second-order total-variation penalty on the model. We determined the performance of our method on broadband synthetic data and field data represented by constant-offset gathers from a source-over-cable data set from the Barents Sea. In the field data example, we compare the results to a full production flow from a contractor company, which is based on a 5D Fourier interpolation approach. In this example, our approach displays improved reconstruction of the wavefield with less noise in the sparse near offsets compared with the industry approach, which leads to improved structural definition of the near offsets in the migrated sections.
Prestack diffraction separation by parameterizing the reflection local slope
Authors: Li Chuangjian , Peng Suping , Cui Xiaoqin , Liu Qiannan , Lin Peng
Published: November 2021

Diffracted waves provide an opportunity to detect small-scale subsurface structures because they give wide illumination direction of geologic discontinuities, such as faults, pinch outs, and collapsed columns. However, separating diffracted waves is challenging because diffracted waves have greater geometric amplitude losses and are generally weaker than reflections. To retain more diffracted waves, we have developed a prestack diffraction separation method based on the local slope pattern and plane-wave destruction (PWD) method. In general, it is difficult to distinguish between hyperbolic reflections and hyperbolic diffractions using data-driven local slope estimation in the shot domain. Therefore, we transfer slope estimation in the shot domain to velocity analysis in the common-midpoint domain and ray parameter calculation in the stack domain. The connection between local slope and the normal moveout velocity and the surface-ray parameter is known, which provides a novel approach for estimating the local slope of hyperbolic reflected waves in the shot domain. The estimated slope can provide an exact slope-based operator for the PWD method, thus allowing the PWD to separate diffracted waves from reflected waves in the shot domain. Synthetic and field data tests demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of our prestack diffraction separation method.
On the relation between the propagator matrix and the Marchenko focusing function
Authors: Wapenaar Kees , de Ridder Sjoerd
Published: November 2021

The propagator matrix propagates a full wavefield from one depth level to another, accounting for all propagation angles and evanescent waves. The Marchenko focusing function forms the nucleus of data-driven Marchenko redatuming and imaging schemes, accounting for internal multiples. These seemingly different concepts appear to be closely related to each other. With this insight, the strong aspects of the propagator matrix (such as the handling of evanescent waves) can be transferred to the focusing function. Vice versa, the propagator matrix inherits from the focusing function that it can be retrieved from the reflection response, which reduces its sensitivity to the subsurface model.
Elastic anisotropy of shales: The roles of crack alignment and compliance ratio
Authors: Ding Jihui , Clark Anthony C. , Vanorio Tiziana , Jew Adam D. , Bargar John R.
Published: November 2021

Cracks, broadly defined as compliant discontinuities, are a major cause of elastic anisotropy. However, few models are available for quantifying crack properties relevant to anisotropy. We developed a rock-physics model to quantify crack angular distribution and normal-to-tangential compliance ratio from pressure-dependent acoustic velocities measured in the laboratory. Our model uses a rectangular function of variable width and amplitude to extract the maximum dip angle of cracks, which is a direct quantification of crack alignment relative to the bedding plane. We tested the model on an organic-rich shale data set and confirmed that crack alignment and compliance ratio strongly impact Thomsen anisotropy parameters, thus demonstrating the model as a useful tool for better understanding how cracks affect elastic anisotropy.
Biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy of the deep offshore Niger Delta and implications for future hydrocarbon exploration in the Paleogene sequences
Authors: Ozumba Bertram Maduka , Dim Chidozie Izuchukwu Princeton
Published: November 2021

The Niger Delta Deep Offshore Basin has been the latest frontier within the Niger Delta for hydrocarbon exploration and production activities. Until the onset of drilling activities in the early 1990s, little was known about the biostratigraphy of this frontier setting. Thus, uncertainties existed in the ages ascribed to the various stratigraphic sequences. Presently, several wells have been drilled in the deep offshore Niger Delta and three-pronged biostratigraphic data and some sequence stratigraphic interpretations have become available. We have integrated biostratigraphic data comprising palynological, foraminiferal, and calcareous nannoplankton zonation and biofacies, wireline log information, and regional-3D seismic data, with simple basic sequence stratigraphic analysis for a detailed well correlation, regional mapping of hydrocarbon-bearing intervals, and evaluation of the thicknesses of promising stratigraphic intervals. Results indicate a significant effect on not only the earlier conceptualized age of the deepest prospective reservoirs, but also the ages of possible source rocks in the Paleogene of the Niger Delta offshore sequence. Our findings will help in the realistic assumptions of source rock characterization, charge modeling/prediction, and the stratigraphic thicknesses of the offshore sequences and their reservoirs. We examine the specific derivable age interpretations from the integration of at least six wells, biostratigraphic data with seismic, and the implications of these interpretations for hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Paleogene sequences. Furthermore, we document the biostratigraphy work done in the area, in all the structural belts where drilling has occurred including the deepest well drilled in the deep offshore Niger Delta, Bosi-006. The results of this study have a critical impact on the current regional geologic understanding of the deep offshore Niger Delta.
Blinatumomab Nonresponse and High-Disease Burden Are Associated With Inferior Outcomes After CD19-CAR for B-ALL
Authors: Myers Regina M. , Taraseviciute Agne , Steinberg Seth M. , Lamble Adam J. , Sheppard Jennifer , Yates Bonnie , Kovach Alexandra E. , Wood Brent , Borowitz Michael J. , Stetler-Stevenson Maryalice , Yuan Constance M. , Pillai Vinodh , Foley Toni , Chung Perry , Chen Lee , Lee Daniel W. , Annesley Colleen , DiNofia Amanda , Grupp Stephan A. , John Samuel , Bhojwani Deepa , Brown Patrick A. , Laetsch Theodore W. , Gore Lia , Gardner Rebecca A. , Rheingold Susan R. , Pulsipher Michael A. , Shah Nirali N.
Published: November 2021

PURPOSE

CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CD19-CAR) and blinatumomab effectively induce remission in relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) but are also associated with CD19 antigen modulation. There are limited data regarding the impact of prior blinatumomab exposure on subsequent CD19-CAR outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a multicenter, retrospective review of children and young adults with relapsed or refractory ALL who received CD19-CAR between 2012 and 2019. Primary objectives addressed 6-month relapse-free survival (RFS) and event-free survival (EFS), stratified by blinatumomab use. Secondary objectives included comparison of longer-term survival outcomes, complete remission rates, CD19 modulation, and identification of factors associated with EFS.

RESULTS

Of 420 patients (median age, 12.7 years; interquartile range, 7.1-17.5) treated with commercial tisagenlecleucel or one of three investigational CD19-CAR constructs, 77 (18.3%) received prior blinatumomab. Blinatumomab-exposed patients more frequently harbored KMT2A rearrangements and underwent a prior stem-cell transplant than blinatumomab-naïve patients. Among patients evaluable for CD19-CAR response (n = 412), blinatumomab nonresponders had lower complete remission rates to CD19-CAR (20 of 31, 64.5%) than blinatumomab responders (39 of 42, 92.9%) or blinatumomab-naive patients (317 of 339, 93.5%), P < .0001. Following CD19-CAR, blinatumomab nonresponders had worse 6-month EFS (27.3%; 95% CI, 13.6 to 43.0) compared with blinatumomab responders (66.9%; 95% CI, 50.6 to 78.9; P < .0001) or blinatumomab-naïve patients (72.6%; 95% CI, 67.5 to 77; P < .0001) and worse RFS. High-disease burden independently associated with inferior EFS. CD19-dim or partial expression (preinfusion) was more frequently seen in blinatumomab-exposed patients (13.3% v 6.5%; P = .06) and associated with lower EFS and RFS.

CONCLUSION

With the largest series to date in pediatric CD19-CAR, and, to our knowledge, the first to study the impact of sequential CD19 targeting, we demonstrate that blinatumomab nonresponse and high-disease burden were independently associated with worse RFS and EFS, identifying important indicators of long-term outcomes following CD19-CAR.
TPSL: A propagation source localization method based on limited observation nodes
Authors: Wang Chao , Man Ziqian , Yuan Shunjie , Zhang Gaoyu
Published: November 2021

The research on locating the sources that initiate a diffusion process on complex networks has far-reaching significance in various fields. In this paper, we propose the multi-source localization method TPSL based on limited observation nodes from the perspectives of infection time and infection probability. Simulations on both the synthetic and empirical networks demonstrate that TPSL has excellent performance. We also explore the influence of different strategies of selecting observation nodes on the performance of TPSL and find out that selecting the nodes with larger closeness centrality as observers performs best.
Distinct properties of vortex bound states driven by temperature
Authors: Fan Xinwei , Chen Xiaoyu , Yang Huan , Wen Hai-Hu
Published: November 2021

We investigate the behavior of vortex bound states in the quantum limit by self-consistently solving the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equation. We find that the energies of the vortex bound states deviates from the analytical result

with the half-integer angular momentum μ at very low temperature. Specifically, the energy ratio for the first three orders is closer to 1: 2: 3 than to 1: 3: 5 in the extreme quantum limit

. The local density of states reveals a Friedel-like behavior associated with that of the pair potential, which will be smoothed out by the thermal effect above the quantum limit. Our studies show that the vortex bound states can exhibit very distinct features in different temperature regimes, which provides a comprehensive understanding and should stimulate more experimental efforts for verification.
Exploring digital filters for internal root resorption: how can we improve the diagnosis of small lesions?
Authors: da Silveira Tiecher Priscila Fernanda , Assein Arús Nádia , Adams Hilgert Eduarda , Dias da Silveira Heloisa Emilia , Pante Fontana Mathias , Dias da Silveira Heraldo Luís , Vizzotto Mariana Boessio
Published: November 2021

Objectives:

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of enhancement filters in detecting small simulated internal root resorptions (IRR).

Methods: :

Forty-two extracted human teeth were sectioned, connected, and stored in a dry human jaw and X-rayed with photostimulable phosphor plates (PSPs), composing the control group (CG). In the middle-third of the root canals, IRR lesions were simulated using Da Silveira protocol. Later, the specimens were X-rayed to create the test group (TG). All images acquired were exported with seven enhancement filters plus the original image. Three examiners used a five-point Likert scale to evaluate the images regarding the presence/absence of IRR. Diagnostic efficacy was assessed from sensitivity and specificity results. Comparison among filters was performed by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results: :

Moderate values of Kappa interexaminer (0.403–0.620) and high values of Kappa intraexaminer (0.757–0.915) were observed. The best performance occurred in the CG (p < 0.05). Original images presented the greatest sensitivity and area under the ROC curve (0.595–0.750), while the Endo filter presented the greatest specificity (0.952). Inversion and Pseudo-3D images produced the greatest doubt in the diagnosis, significant for CG with the Pseudo-3D filter (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: :

The Original and ‘Endo’ filters should be chosen as it offers greater diagnostic ability and allows more confidence during the evaluation.
Nuage condensates: accelerators or circuit breakers for sRNA silencing pathways?
Authors: Ouyang John Paul Tsu , Seydoux Geraldine
Published: November 2021

Nuage are RNA-rich condensates that assemble around the nuclei of developing germ cells. Many proteins required for the biogenesis and function of silencing small RNAs (sRNAs) enrich in nuage, and it is often assumed that nuage is the cellular site where sRNAs are synthesized and encounter target transcripts for silencing. UsingC. elegansas a model, we examine the complex multicondensate architecture of nuage and review evidence for compartmentalization of silencing pathways. We consider the possibility that nuage condensates balance the activity of competing sRNA pathways and serve to limit, rather than enhance, sRNA amplification to protect transcripts from dangerous runaway silencing.