bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring temporal and topical dynamics of research on climate/environment–migration nexus: A critical comparative perspective
Authors: İçduygu Ahmet , Gören Hacer
Published: August 2023

Research on climate/environmental change and human migration have undergone significant transformations since the early 1990s. Attention by migration-related journals and environment/climate-oriented journals has been uneven. What is absent is a critical comparative approach to this unevenness and the evolving dynamics of the nexus in a continuum. We conducted a critical comparative analysis of six scholarly journals to fill this gap. Based on multi-stage mixed methods, our findings suggest: (1) scholarly research has disproportionately focused on the impacts of X (climate/environmental change effects) on Y (human migration), vulnerabilities, and agency of moving people and broader social and political processes receiving less attention; (2) Compared with migration-related journals, climate/environment-oriented journals have contributed more to research on the climate/environment–migration nexus, with significant differences in their approach and topical selections; (3) ‘Migration as an adaptation strategy to climate change’ as a theme has shown an unprecedented rise since 2010, with most articles having a skewed emphasis on migration as an individual and unplanned form of adaptation rather than that of planned adaptation; (4) Research on the climate/environment–migration nexus has recently entered the early maturation period, which approximates research into mainstream migration studies. Consequently, we divide the research’s last three decades into three stages: prognostic period (early 1990s to early 2000s), transitionary period (early 2000s to 2010), and growth period (2010-present). We suggest that both journal groups embrace more inclusive and diverse foci on different scales.
Expanding Behavioral and Occupational Health Research in Military Police
Authors: Horan Kristin A , Schlenk Michael A , Collette Tyler L , Channer Bianca C , Sanchez-Cardona Israel , Moore Brian A
Published: August 2023

Introduction

It is important to understand the behavioral and occupational health needs of military police personnel, a high-risk and understudied population.

Materials and Methods

The incidence rates of behavioral and occupational conditions were examined from the years of 2005 to 2021 from the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database. Single-sample chi-square analyses were performed to analyze the differences in the incidence rates across demographic groups relative to population density.

Results

There were moderate-to-large increases in sleep-related disorders and mood or stress-related disorders. There were also patterns of overrepresentation or underrepresentation in diagnoses of various conditions by sex, age group, marital status, race, service branch, and pay grade.

Conclusions

It is important to provide tailored resources and programming to employees in high-stress settings to help prevent or manage behavioral and occupational health conditions and reduce the stigma surrounding the utilization of such resources and programs.
Physical parameters of stellar population in star formation regions of galaxies
Authors: Gusev A S , Sakhibov F , Egorov O V , Kostiuk V S , Shimanovskaya E V
Published: August 2023

We present the results of a study of young unresolved stellar groupings (clusters, OB associations, and their complexes) associated with H ii regions, based on the coupling of spectroscopic, photometric and H α spectrophotometric observations of star formation regions. Along with our own observations, we use a part of the spectroscopic and H α data from the literature and open data bases. The study is based on the catalogue of 1510 star formation regions with ages ∼10–20 Myr in 19 spiral galaxies, compiled by us earlier. We study the morphology of stellar groupings and their relation with the associated H α emission region. Extinctions, gas chemical abundances, and sizes of star formation regions are measured. Using numerical simple stellar population models computed for metallicities fixed from observations to intrinsic colours of the studied star formation regions, we estimated ages and masses of stellar population of 400 young stellar groupings. Different relations between observational and physical parameters of the young stellar population in star formation regions are discussed.
Variables for differential diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever: Multiple correspondence analysis of a large Japanese cohort
Authors: Kishida Dai , Nakamura Akinori , Yazaki Masahide , Tsuchiya-Suzuki Ayako , Ichikawa Takanori , Shimojima Yasuhiro , Sekijima Yoshiki
Published: August 2023

Objectives

We investigated differential diagnoses that should be noted with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and useful variables for differentiation in a large Japanese cohort.

Methods

Patients aged ≥13 years who were clinically suspected of having FMF by Livneh criteria were studied 1 year after MEFV genetic testing. Patients ultimately diagnosed with other diseases were studied, and the association among each disease, patient characteristics, and clinical variables were analysed using multiple correspondence analysis.

Results

In total, 504 patients were included in this study; 34 (6.7%) were diagnosed with a disease other than FMF. The most common diagnosis was Behçet’s disease, followed by periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and infectious diseases. Although none of the non-FMF patients had exon 10 variants, some responded to colchicine treatment. Multiple correspondence analysis suggested that atypical symptoms such as stomatitis were associated with Behçet’s disease and PFAPA syndrome, whereas characteristic situations such as disease onset ≥40 years were associated with MDS and infectious diseases.

Conclusion

Careful follow-ups and reanalysis of the diagnosis should be performed for patients with atypical findings and no exon 10 variants, even if their symptoms meet the clinical criteria for FMF.
CRI-SPA: a high-throughput method for systematic genetic editing of yeast libraries
Authors: Cachera Paul , Olsson Helén , Coumou Hilde , Jensen Mads L , Sánchez Benjamín J , Strucko Tomas , van den Broek Marcel , Daran Jean-Marc , Jensen Michael K , Sonnenschein Nikolaus , Lisby Michael , Mortensen Uffe H
Published: August 2023

Biological functions are orchestrated by intricate networks of interacting genetic elements. Predicting the interaction landscape remains a challenge for systems biology and new research tools allowing simple and rapid mapping of sequence to function are desirable. Here, we describe CRI-SPA, a method allowing the transfer of chromosomal genetic features from a CRI-SPA Donor strain to arrayed strains in large libraries of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. CRI-SPA is based on mating, CRISPR-Cas9-induced gene conversion, and Selective Ploidy Ablation. CRI-SPA can be massively parallelized with automation and can be executed within a week. We demonstrate the power of CRI-SPA by transferring four genes that enable betaxanthin production into each strain of the yeast knockout collection (≈4800 strains). Using this setup, we show that CRI-SPA is highly efficient and reproducible, and even allows marker-free transfer of genetic features. Moreover, we validate a set of CRI-SPA hits by showing that their phenotypes correlate strongly with the phenotypes of the corresponding mutant strains recreated by reverse genetic engineering. Hence, our results provide a genome-wide overview of the genetic requirements for betaxanthin production. We envision that the simplicity, speed, and reliability offered by CRI-SPA will make it a versatile tool to forward systems-level understanding of biological processes.
STING agonist-boosted mRNA immunization via intelligent design of nanovaccines for enhancing cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Zhou Lei , Yi Wenzhe , Zhang Zehong , Shan Xiaoting , Zhao Zitong , Sun Xiangshi , Wang Jue , Wang Hao , Jiang Hualiang , Zheng Mingyue , Wang Dangge , Li Yaping
Published: August 2023

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine is revolutionizing the methodology of immunization in cancer. However, mRNA immunization is drastically limited by multistage biological barriers including poor lymphatic transport, rapid clearance, catalytic hydrolysis, insufficient cellular entry and endosome entrapment. Herein, we design a mRNA nanovaccine based on intelligent design to overcome these obstacles. Highly efficient nanovaccines are carried out with machine learning techniques from datasets of various nanocarriers, ensuring successful delivery of mRNA antigen and cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate (cGAMP) to targets. It activates stimulator of interferon genes (STING), promotes mRNA-encoded antigen presentation and boosts antitumour immunity in vivo, thus inhibiting tumour growth and ensuring long-term survival of tumour-bearing mice. This work provides a feasible and safe strategy to facilitate STING agonist-synergized mRNA immunization, with great translational potential for enhancing cancer immunotherapy.
Steady-state burning plasma: a new stage in the development of magnetic confinement fusion energy
Authors: Wan Baonian , Xu Guosheng
Published: August 2023

Over the past 20 years, advances in tokamak physics and technology have prepared the field of magnetic confinement fusion research for the next step toward a steady-state burning plasma.
Overexpression of a Plant-Specific Gγ Protein, AGG3, in the Model Monocot Setaria viridis Confers Tolerance to Heat Stress
Authors: Torres Rodríguez María Daniela , Bhatnagar Nikita , Pandey Sona
Published: August 2023

The vascular plant-specific, cysteine-rich type III Gγ proteins, which are integral components of the heterotrimeric G-protein complex, play crucial roles in regulating a multitude of plant processes, including those related to crop yield and responses to abiotic stresses. The presence of multiple copies of type III Gγ proteins in most plants and a propensity of the presence of specific truncated alleles in many cultivated crops present an ambiguous picture of their roles in modulating specific responses. AGG3 is a canonical type III Gγ protein of Arabidopsis, and its overexpression in additional model crops offers the opportunity to directly evaluate the effects of protein expression levels on plant phenotypes. We have shown that AGG3 overexpression in the monocot model Setaria viridis leads to an increase in seed yield. In this study, we have investigated the response of the S. viridis plants overexpressing AGG3 to heat stress (HS), one of the most important abiotic stresses affecting crops worldwide. We show that a short span of HS at a crucial developmental time point has a significant effect on plant yield in the later stages. We also show that plants with higher levels of AGG3 are more tolerant to HS. This is attributed to an altered regulation of stress-responsive genes and improved modulation of the photosynthetic efficiency during the stress. Overall, our results confirm that AGG3 plays a crucial role in regulating plant responses to unfavorable environmental conditions and may contribute positively to avoiding crop yield losses.
Machine learning a time-local fluctuation theorem for nonequilibrium steady states
Authors: Sanderson Stephen , Petersen Charlotte F , Searles Debra J
Published: August 2023

Fluctuation theorems (FTs) quantify the thermodynamic reversibility of a system, and for deterministic systems they are defined in terms of the dissipation function. However, in a nonequilibrium steady state of deterministic dynamics, the phase space distribution is unknown, making the dissipation function difficult to evaluate without extra information. As such, steady state FTs for deterministic systems to date have required either that the trajectory segment of interest is relatively long, or that information is available about the entire trajectory surrounding that segment. In this work, it is shown that a simple machine learning model trained to predict whether a given steady state trajectory segment is being played forward or backward in time calculates a function which satisfies an FT and relies solely on information within the segment of interest. The FT is satisfied even for very short trajectory segments where the approximate relation derived from theory breaks down, for systems far from equilibrium, and for various nonequilibrium dynamics. It is further demonstrated that any function which is a well-calibrated predictor of time’s arrow must satisfy an FT, and that a local FT can be derived which depends only on local dissipation and its correlations with the surrounding nonlocal dissipation.
Construction of 3D bioprinting of HAP/collagen scaffold in gelation bath for bone tissue engineering
Authors: Guo Chuang , Wu Jiacheng , Zeng Yiming , Li Hong
Published: August 2023

Reconstruction of bone defects remains a clinical challenge, and 3D bioprinting is a fabrication technology to treat it via tissue engineering. Collagen is currently the most popular cell scaffold for tissue engineering; however, a shortage of printability and low mechanical strength limited its application via 3D bioprinting. In the study, aiding with a gelatin support bath, a collagen-based scaffold was fabricated via 3D printing, where hydroxyapatite (HAP) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were added to mimic the composition of bone. The results showed that the blend of HAP and collagen showed suitable rheological performance for 3D extrusion printing and enhanced the composite scaffold’s strength. The gelatin support bath could effectively support the HAP/collagen scaffold’s dimension with designed patterns at room temperature. BMSCs in/on the scaffold kept living and proliferating, and there was a high alkaline phosphate expression. The printed collagen-based scaffold with biocompatibility, mechanical properties and bioactivity provides a new way for bone tissue engineering via 3D bioprinting.
Nature-inspired nanocarriers for improving drug therapy of atherosclerosis
Authors: Ji Weihong , Zhang Yuanxing , Deng Yuanru , Li Changyong , Kankala Ranjith Kumar , Chen Aizheng
Published: August 2023

Atherosclerosis (AS) has emerged as one of the prevalent arterial vascular diseases characterized by plaque and inflammation, primarily causing disability and mortality globally. Drug therapy remains the main treatment for AS. However, a series of obstacles hinder effective drug delivery. Nature, from natural micro-/nano-structural biological particles like natural cells and extracellular vesicles to the distinctions between the normal and pathological microenvironment, offers compelling solutions for efficient drug delivery. Nature-inspired nanocarriers of synthetic stimulus-responsive materials and natural components, such as lipids, proteins and membrane structures, have emerged as promising candidates for fulfilling drug delivery needs. These nanocarriers offer several advantages, including prolonged blood circulation, targeted plaque delivery, targeted specific cells delivery and controlled drug release at the action site. In this review, we discuss the nature-inspired nanocarriers which leverage the natural properties of cells or the microenvironment to improve atherosclerotic drug therapy. Finally, we provide an overview of the challenges and opportunities of applying these innovative nature-inspired nanocarriers.
Banking Integration and Capital Misallocation: Evidence from China
Authors: Ye Naide , Kong Dongmin
Published: August 2023

Using the staggered intercity but within-province deregulation of local banks in China as exogenous variations, we evaluate the effect of banking integration across geographical segmentation on capital misallocation. Based on an administrative data set comprehensively covering Chinese manufacturing firms, we find that for firms with initially high marginal revenue products of capital (MRPK), the integration increases physical capital by 19.3%, and reduces MRPK by 33.1% relative to low MRPK firms. Our findings are more pronounced for non-state-owned firms and firms with higher exposure to integrated banks. Integration also significantly increases the responsiveness of firms’ investments to deposit shock on other cities within the same province. (JEL G21, G32, D24)

Received October 12, 2022; editorial decision July 11, 2023 by Editor Isil Erel
Transcriptomic network analysis reveals key drivers of response to anti-TNF biologics in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Yu Chae-Yeon , Lee Hye-Soon , Joo Young Bin , Cho Soo-Kyung , Choi Chan-Bum , Sung Yoon-Kyoung , Kim Tae-Hwan , Jun Jae-Bum , Yoo Dae Hyun , Bae Sang-Cheol , Kim Kwangwoo , Bang So-Young
Published: August 2023

Objective

Anti-TNF biologics have been widely used to ameliorate disease activity in patients with RA. However, a large fraction of patients show a poor response to these agents. Moreover, no clinically applicable predictive biomarkers have been established. This study aimed to identify response-associated biomarkers using longitudinal transcriptomic data in two independent RA cohorts.

Methods

RNA sequencing data from peripheral blood cell samples of Korean and Caucasian RA cohorts before and after initial treatment with anti-TNF biologics were analysed to assess treatment-induced expression changes that differed between highly reliable excellent responders and null responders. Weighted correlation network, immune cell composition, and key driver analyses were performed to understand response-associated transcriptomic networks and cell types and their correlation with disease activity indices.

Results

In total, 305 response-associated genes showed significantly different treatment-induced expression changes between excellent and null responders. Co-expression network construction and subsequent key driver analysis revealed that 41 response-associated genes played a crucial role as key drivers of transcriptomic alteration in four response-associated networks involved in various immune pathways: type I IFN signalling, myeloid leucocyte activation, B cell activation, and NK cell/lymphocyte–mediated cytotoxicity. Transcriptomic response scores that we developed to estimate the individual-level degree of expression changes in the response-associated key driver genes were significantly correlated with the changes in clinical indices in independent patients with moderate or ambiguous response outcomes.

Conclusion

This study provides response-specific treatment-induced transcriptomic signatures by comparing the transcriptomic landscape between patients with excellent and null responses to anti-TNF drugs at both gene and network levels.
Doctors’ Commons: the Civilians’ Influence on Equity and Trusts
Authors: Brown Lloyd
Published: August 2023

The core of this article lies in its broad examination of the influence that civil law and the now defunct Doctors’ Commons may have had on equity and trusts. Doctors’ Commons was like an Inn of Court for civil lawyers based in England. Historically, these civilian practitioners had a monopoly over certain legal jurisdictions, including wills and probate. To show the civilians’ influence, this article examines Doctors’ Commons’ dominion over the proving of wills. It further looks at the civil law’s possible development of equity’s core concepts, with a specific focus on the Graeco-Roman concept of “conscience”.
Seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Kassie Enirsie , Kebede Nigatu , Kassa Tesfu , Garoma Abebe , Girma Musse , Asnake Yewbnesh , Alemu Ayinalem , Degu Sileshi , Tsigie Meshesha
Published: August 2023

Background

To assess the seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women at the Debre Markos Referral Hospital, northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A facility-based cross-sectional study was undertaken among pregnant women from March 2020 to May 2021. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from randomly selected participants. Five millilitres of blood was collected and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit was used to test for T. gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. A logistic regression model was computed to identify the risk factors. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) was estimated along with the 95% confidence interval (CI). A statistically significant association was defined as p<0.05.

Results

T. gondii IgG antibody positivity was found in 38.8% (n=132) of 340 pregnant women. Contact with cats (AOR 2.5 [95% CI 1.5 to 4.2]), eating raw/undercooked meat (AOR 5.7 [95% CI 3.2 to 10.3]), consuming unwashed vegetables (AOR 4.1 [95% CI 2.1 to 8.0]), a history of abortion (AOR 1.9 [95% CI 1.1 to 3.3]) and drinking water sources (AOR 2.5 [95% CI 1.2 to 5.2]) demonstrated a statistically significant association with T. gondii infection.

Conclusions

Toxoplasmosis was found to be fairly common in pregnant mothers. Proper cat excreta disposal, not eating raw/undercooked meat, maintaining hand cleanliness and following environmental sanitation protocols could be important to decrease T. gondii infection.
XIVModern Literature
Authors: Sorensen Jennifer , Mourant Chris , Phillips Joshua , Parsons Katherine , Roach Rebecca , Stringfellow Sophie , Rodríguez Martín Gustavo A , Fallow Catriona , Richards Joshua , Niven Alex , Wheatley David
Published: August 2023

This chapter has eight sections 1. General. 2. Fiction Pre-1945; 3. Fiction Post-1945; 4. Drama Pre-1950; 5. Drama Post-1950; 6. British Poetry Pre-1950; 7. British Poetry Post-1950; 8. Modern Irish Poetry. Section 1 is by Jennifer Sorensen; section 2(a) is by Chris Mourant; section 2(b) will resume in 2023; section 2(c) is delayed by parental leave and will resume in 2023; section 2(d) is by Joshua Phillips; section 3(a) is by Katherine Parsons; section 3(b) is by Rebecca Roach, with thanks to Samuel Cooper, and covers work in 2020 and 2021; section 4(a) is by Sophie Stringfellow; section 4(b) is by Gustavo A. Rodríguez Martín; section 5 is by Catriona Fallow; section 6(a) will resume in 2023; section 6(b) is by Joshua Richards; section 7 is by Alex Niven and covers work in 2020 and 2021; section 8 is by David Wheatley.
Sex-related exacerbation of injury-induced mechanical hypersensitivity in GAD67 haplodeficient mice
Authors: Charron Aude , Pepino Lucie , Malapert Pascale , Debrauwer Vincent , Castets Francis , Salio Chiara , Moqrich Aziz
Published: August 2023

Decreased GABA levels in injury-induced loss of spinal inhibition are still under intense interest and debate. Here, we show that GAD67 haplodeficient mice exhibited a prolonged injury-induced mechanical hypersensitivity in postoperative, inflammatory, and neuropathic pain models. In line with this, we found that loss of 1 copy of the GAD67-encoding gene Gad1 causes a significant decrease in GABA contents in spinal GABAergic neuronal profiles. Consequently, GAD67 haplodeficient males and females were unresponsive to the analgesic effect of diazepam. Remarkably, all these phenotypes were more pronounced in GAD67 haplodeficient females. These mice had significantly much lower amount of spinal GABA content, exhibited an exacerbated pain phenotype during the second phase of the formalin test, developed a longer lasting mechanical hypersensitivity in the chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve model, and were unresponsive to the pain relief effect of the GABA-transaminase inhibitor phenylethylidenehydrazine. Our study provides strong evidence for a role of GABA levels in the modulation of injury-induced mechanical pain and suggests a potential role of the GABAergic system in the prevalence of some painful diseases among females.
How do opioids control pain circuits in the brainstem during opioid-induced disorders and in chronic pain? Implications for the treatment of chronic pain
Authors: Costa Ana Rita , Tavares Isaura , Martins Isabel
Published: August 2023

Brainstem areas involved in descending pain modulation are crucial for the analgesic actions of opioids. However, the role of opioids in these areas during tolerance, opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH), and in chronic pain settings remains underappreciated. We conducted a revision of the recent studies performed in the main brainstem areas devoted to descending pain modulation with a special focus on the medullary dorsal reticular nucleus (DRt), as a distinctive pain facilitatory area and a key player in the diffuse noxious inhibitory control paradigm. We show that maladaptive processes within the signaling of the µ-opioid receptor (MOR), which entail desensitization and a switch to excitatory signaling, occur in the brainstem, contributing to tolerance and OIH. In the context of chronic pain, the alterations found are complex and depend on the area and model of chronic pain. For example, the downregulation of MOR and δ-opioid receptor (DOR) in some areas, including the DRt, during neuropathic pain likely contributes to the inefficacy of opioids. However, the upregulation of MOR and DOR, at the rostral ventromedial medulla, in inflammatory pain models, suggests therapeutic avenues to explore. Mechanistically, the rationale for the diversity and complexity of alterations in the brainstem is likely provided by the alternative splicing of opioid receptors and the heteromerization of MOR. In conclusion, this review emphasizes how important it is to consider the effects of opioids at these circuits when using opioids for the treatment of chronic pain and for the development of safer and effective opioids.
Impact of immunosuppression level on liver allograft fibrosis after pediatric liver transplantation: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Jiang Yi-Zhou , Zhao Xin-Yan , Zhou Guang-Peng , Wei Lin , Qu Wei , Zeng Zhi-Gui , Wu Shan-Shan , Zhang Hai-Ming , Liu Ying , Tan Yu-Le , Wang Jun , Zhu Zhi-Jun , Sun Li-Ying
Published: August 2023

Background:

Liver allograft fibrosis (LAF) is prevalent among children with long-term survival after liver transplantation (LT). We aimed to identify clinical risk factors, with a focus on the impact of immunosuppression (IS) level in the early posttransplant period on LAF.

Methods:

A retrospective study was conducted on pediatric LT recipients with at least one year of follow-up. Cox regression models were used to analyze risk factors associated with LAF, and landmark analysis was used to evaluate the impact of IS level on LAF. Longitudinal analysis was also conducted in patients with paired biopsies.

Results:

A total of 139 patients involving 174 liver biopsies were included. With 2.3 to 5.9 years of follow-up, LAF was detected in 91.4% of patients (7.9% were significant), up to 88.2% of whom showed normal liver function. Episodes of acute rejection, biliary complications, CMV infection and prolonged cold ischemia time were independent risk factors. Besides, the risk of LAF in patients with relatively low IS levels at postoperative 1-3, 3-6, 6-12, and 12-36 months was higher than the counterparts. Especially, in patients with relatively high IS levels (mean tacrolimus trough concentration ≥5.1 ng/mL) during postoperative 12-36 months, the risk of LAF was 67% lower in the short future (P=0.006). In paired analysis, patients with increased IS levels were more likely to achieve fibrosis reduction (HR=7.53, P=0.025).

Conclusions:

Mild to moderate LAF is common among pediatric LT recipients and can appear early and silently. Maintaining adequate levels of immunosuppression during 1 to 3 years after LT seems crucial to ensure protection against LAF.
The role of aspirin versus low-molecular-weight heparin for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis after total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Meng Jiahao , Liu Weijie , Xiao Yifan , Tang Hang , Wu Yumei , Gao Shuguang
Published: August 2023

Background:

There is a debate over the use of aspirin after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis. To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of aspirin after TKA, we performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared aspirin with low-molecular-weight-heparin (LMWH).

Methods:

PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science were last searched on 31 January 2023 for studies comparing the effect of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis between aspirin and LMWH. The results of eligible studies were analyzed in terms of venous thromboembolism, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and bleeding complications rates.

Results:

Six randomized controlled trials including 6772 patients met the inclusion criteria. LMWH showed a statistically significant reduction in the overall VTE rate (RR 1.46, 95%CI 1.16 to 1.84). No significant differences in DVT, PE, and bleeding complications rates were found between aspirin and LMWH.

Conclusion:

Compared with LMWH, aspirin presents a higher risk of VTE after TKA. In terms of safety, aspirin and LMWH show comparable outcomes. The results do not support the role of aspirin role as an anticoagulant for preventing VTE after TKA.
Performance of CT-based deep learning in diagnostic assessment of suspicious lateral lymph nodes in papillary thyroid cancer: a prospective diagnostic study
Authors: Zheng Guibin , Zhang Haicheng , Lin Fusheng , Zafereo Mark , Gross Neil , Sun Peng , Liu Yang , Sun Haiqing , WU Guochang , Wei Shujian , Wu Jia , Mao Ning , Li Guojun , Wu Guoyang , Zheng Haitao , Song Xicheng
Published: August 2023

Background:

Preoperative evaluation of the metastasis status of lateral lymph nodes (LNs) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is challenging. Strategies for using deep learning (DL) to diagnosis of lateral LN metastasis require additional development and testing. This study aimed to build a DL-based model to distinguish benign lateral LNs from metastatic lateral LNs in PTC and test the model’s diagnostic performance in a real-world clinical setting.

Methods:

This was a prospective diagnostic study. An ensemble model integrating a three-dimensional residual network (ResNet) algorithm with clinical risk factors available before surgery was developed based on CT images of lateral LNs in an internal dataset and validated in two external datasets. The diagnostic performance of the ensemble model was tested and compared with the results of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) (used as the standard reference method) and the diagnoses made by two senior radiologists in 113 suspicious lateral LNs in patients enrolled prospectively.

Results:

The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the ensemble model for diagnosing suspicious lateral LNs was 0.824 (95% CI, 0.738-0.911). The sensitivity and specificity of the ensemble model were 0.839 (95% CI, 0.762-0.916) and 0.769 (95% CI, 0.607-0.931), respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of the ensemble model was 82.3%. With FNA results as the criterion standard, the ensemble model had excellent diagnostic performance (P=0.115), similar to that of the two senior radiologists (P=1.000 and P=0.392, respectively).

Conclusion:

A three-dimensional ResNet-based ensemble model was successfully developed for diagnostic assessment of suspicious lateral LNs and achieved diagnostic performance similar to that of FNA and senior radiologists. The model appears promising for clinical application.
Vibration Controlled Transient Elastography in Screening for Silent Liver Diseases
Authors: Said Ebada , Abdel-Gawad Muhammad , Abdelsameea Eman , Elshemy Eman Elsayed , Abdeen Nermeen , Elbasiony Mohamed , Omran Dalia , Elesnawy Yasser , Eid Alshaimaa , Lashen Sameh A. , Elbahr Osama , Naguib Gina Gamal , Afify Shimaa , Bahbah Eshak I. , Alboraie Mohamed
Published: August 2023

Objectives

The objective of this study was to screen for significant hepatic fibrosis or steatosis in asymptomatic, apparently healthy subjects by using Vibration-controlled transient elastography and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP).

Methods

Prospectively, 433 asymptomatic apparently healthy adults were included. Fibroscan/CAP examination was performed for all of them. Subjects with liver stiffness measurement > 6 kPa or CAP >248 dB/m were further evaluated to assess underlying chronic liver disease.

Results

According to fibroscan/CAP examination, subjects were classified into four subgroups: normal (119) with CAP score of 215.85 ± 24.81 dB/m and fibrosis score of 4.47 ± 0.81 kPa, subjects with steatosis only 133 with CAP score of 309.41 ± 42.6 dB/m and fibrosis score of 4.74 ± 0.82 kPa, subjects with both steatosis and fibrosis 95 with CAP score of 318.20 ± 39.89 dB/m and fibrosis score of 7.92 ± 2.58 kPaand subjects with fibrosis only 86 with CAP score of 213.48 ± 22.62 dB/m and fibrosis score of 6.96 ± 1.11 kPa. S0 was present in 205 (47.3%), S1 in 48 (10.2%), S2 in 16 (3.7%) and S3 in 168 (38.8%) of studied subjects, whereas F0-1 was present in 371 (85.7%), F2 in 44 (10.16%), F3 in 16 (3.7%) subjects and F4 in only one (0.23%) subject. Subjects with both steatosis and fibrosis showed significantly higher transaminases, triglycerides and total cholesterol levels than other subgroups.

Conclusions

Most asymptomatic, apparently healthy subjects (72%) have significant steatosis and fibrosis. Liver stiffness measurement and CAP might represent promising first-line noninvasive procedures to screen for silent liver diseases in the general population.
Exploratory analysis of 64CuCl2 PET-CT imaging in carcinoma prostate and its comparison with 68Ga-PSMA-11 and 18F-FDG PET-CT
Authors: Nazar Aamir K , Kalshetty Ashwini , Chakravarty Rubel , Chakraborty Sudipta , Basu Sandip
Published: August 2023

Aim

Exploratory analysis of 64CuCl2 PET-CT imaging in patients of carcinoma prostate and its head-to-head comparison with 68Ga-PSMA-11 and 18F-FDG PET-CT.

Methods

In this prospective study, 50 patients of biopsy-proven carcinoma prostate belonging to the entire spectrum of disease were evaluated, out of which 21 patients were for initial staging and 29 were for restaging/response evaluation. Both 64CuCl2 (early and delayed) and 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET-CT were undertaken in all patients and 18F-FDG PET-CT was done in patients whenever possible. All scans were done within a period of 2 weeks, without any interim therapeutic intervention. 64CuCl2 PET-CT was acquired at 1 and 3 h. We evaluated the physiological uptake of 64CuCl2, correlated the uptake in primary with disease parameters like Gleason score and serum PSA levels, and compared the detection rates for primary and metastatic disease with 68Ga-PSMA-11 and 18F-FDG PET-CT.

Results

The detection rates of primary disease were same for both 64CuCl2 and 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET-CT and both agents performed similarly in detecting extra-prostatic disease. There was no statistically significant correlation observed between the uptake of 64CuCl2 in the primary lesion with disease parameters. With regard to the evaluation of metastatic disease, the detection rate of 64CuCl2 PET-CT was 86% for lymph nodes, 77.3% for skeletal metastases and 80.6% for soft tissue metastases while 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET-CT performed better with detection rates were 98%, 99% and 85.4%, respectively. In 17 patients where 18F-FDG PET-CT was available, 64CuCl2 PET-CT detected more metastatic disease than 18F-FDG PET-CT.

Conclusion

64CuCl2 PET-CT did not show any additional advantage over 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET-CT in evaluation of local disease or for the assessment of metastatic disease. When compared to 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET-CT, the absence of urinary bladder and ureteric activity allows better contrast for evaluating local disease, but it does not translate into increased disease detection.
Sinisalibacter aestuarii sp. nov., isolated from estuarine sediment of the Arakawa River
Authors: Arafat Shaikh Tareq , Hirano Shiori , Sato Anju , Takeuchi Katsunori , Yasuda Tetsuya , Terahara Takeshi , Hamada Moriyuki , Kobayashi Takeshi
Published: August 2023

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile and strictly aerobic bacterium, which showed biofilm-forming ability on polystyrene, designated as strain B-399T, was isolated from the estuarine sediment of the Arakawa River near Tokyo Bay. It grew at pH 6.0–8.5, at 15–35 °C and in the presence of 0–7.5 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain B-399T was clustered in the genus

Sinisalibacter

and has 96.94 % sequence similarity to

Sinisalibacter lacisalsi

X12M-4T, which was the only validly described species in this genus. On the basis of our genome sequencing analyses, the average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strains B-399T and

S. lacisalsi

X12M-4T were 79.54 and 22.30 %, respectively, which confirms that strain B-399T represents a novel species of the genus

Sinisalibacter

. The draft genome size and the DNA G+C content of strain B-399T were 4.12 Mb and 65.2 mol%, respectively. The major fatty acids (>10 %) of strain B-399T were C16 : 0, summed feature 8 (C18 : 1
 ω6c and/or C18 : 1
 ω7c) and C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c. The polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified phospholipid, an unidentified aminolipid and unidentified lipids. The respiratory quinone was Q-10. These chemotaxonomic features were almost coincident with those of the genus

Sinisalibacter

. Therefore, strain B-399T should be classified as representing a new species of the genus

Sinisalibacter

, for which the name Sinisalibacter aestuarii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B-399T (=NBRC 115629T=DSM 114148T).
Phage-plasmids promote genetic exchanges between phages and plasmids and create novel ones
Authors: Pfeifer Eugen , Rocha Eduardo P.C.
Published: August 2023

Phages and plasmids have key roles in bacterial evolution and are usually very different. Yet, they must recombine, since they sometimes carry nearly identical accessory genes. Phage-plasmids are both plasmids and phages and we found they connect them by being at their interface in the network of gene repertoire relatedness. We searched for recombining genes in all three types of elements and found that phage-plasmid exchange rates are between those of plasmids (highest) and phages (lowest). Phage-plasmids drive gene flow between phages and plasmids, including that of antibiotic resistances and defense systems. Genetic exchanges and gene inactivation resulted in P1-like phage-plasmids turning into integrative prophages or just plasmids. The latter acquired conjugation-related functions thereby transitioning from viral to conjugation-driven horizontal transfer. Phage-plasmids have thus a key role in spreading traits across mobile genetic elements and their hosts, while facilitating conversions of one type of element into another.
A novel architecture of PT neuron-based corticothalamic connectivity in the auditory system
Authors: Xie Fenghua , Gao Yixiao , Wang Tao , Liu Mengting , Yuan Kexin
Published: August 2023

Largely topographical projections from different modules of the thalamus, such as the primary, secondary and association sensory thalamus, to hierarchically defined cortical areas have been recognized across sensory systems. However, how corticothalamic projections, which are believed to be crucial for the remarkable flexibility and precision exhibited by our sensory systems, are organized remained poorly understood compared with the thalamocortical counterpart. Here we report that, first, the primary auditory thalamus received direct inputs from cortical L5 neurons. Second, in contrast to the robust thalamocortical topography, L5 neurons in each of the primary, secondary and association auditory cortical regions project to each individual module of the auditory thalamus at the macroscale. Third, the association cortex provided the most L5 inputs to all thalamic modules followed by the secondary and primary auditory cortices. Lastly, L5 axon terminals were mainly varicosity-type and evenly distributed across thalamic modules, but those in the polymodal association module were the largest. Our data suggest that all the modules of the auditory thalamus may be under the modulation of common L5 inputs. This fully-connected-like corticothalamic architecture urges a revision of the traditional hierarchical model in the sensory systems.
An evolutionary timescale for Bacteria calibrated using the Great Oxidation Event
Authors: Davín Adrián A. , Woodcroft Ben J. , Soo Rochelle M. , Morel Benoit , Murali Ranjani , Schrempf Dominik , Clark James , Boussau Bastien , Moody Edmund R. R. , Szánthó Lénárd L. , Richy Etienne , Pisani Davide , Hemp James , Fischer Woodward , Donoghue Philip C.J. , Spang Anja , Hugenholtz Philip , Williams Tom A. , Szöllősi Gergely J.
Published: August 2023

Most of life’s diversity and history is microbial but it has left a meagre fossil record, greatly hindering understanding of evolution in deep time. However, the co-evolution of life and the Earth system has left signatures of bacterial metabolism in the geochemical record, most conspicuously the Great Oxidation Event (GOE) ∼2.33 billion years ago (Ga, (Poulton et al. 2021)), in which oxygenic photosynthesis and tectonism (Eguchi, Seales, and Dasgupta 2019) transformed Earth’s biosphere from dominantly anaerobic to aerobic. Here, we combine machine learning and phylogenetic reconciliation to infer ancestral transitions to aerobic lifestyles during bacterial evolution. Linking these transitions to the GOE provides new constraints to infer the timetree of Bacteria. We find that extant bacterial phyla are truly ancient, having radiated in the Archaean and the Proterozoic: the oldest include Bacillota (Firmicutes), which radiated 3.1-3.7 Ga, Cyanobacteria (3.3-3.5 Ga) and Patescibacteria (3-3.5 Ga). We show that most bacterial phyla were ancestrally anaerobic and that most transitions to an aerobic lifestyle post-dated the GOE. Our analyses trace oxygen production and consumption back to Cyanobacteria. From that starting point, horizontal transfer seeded aerobic lifestyles across bacterial diversity over hundreds of millions of years. Our analyses demonstrate that the diversification of aerobes proceeded in two waves corresponding to the GOE and to a second sustained rise in atmospheric O2at the dawn of the Palezoic (Krause et al. 2022).
Efficient assembly of plant genomes: A case study with evolutionary implications inRanunculus(Ranunculaceae)
Authors: Karbstein Kevin , Choudhary Nancy , Xie Ting , Tomasello Salvatore , Wagner Natascha D. , Barke Birthe H. , Paetzold Claudia , Bradican John P. , Preick Michaela , Himmelbach Axel , Stein Nils , Papantonis Argyris , Irisarri Iker , de Vries Jan , Pucker Boas , Hörandl Elvira
Published: August 2023

Currently, it is still a challenge - in terms of laboratory effort and cost, as well as assembly quality - to unravel the sequence of large and complex genomes from non-model/crop plants. This often hampers the study of evolutionarily intricate species groups. The species-rich genusRanunculus(Ranunculaceae) is an important angiosperm group for the study of polyploidy, apomixis, reticulate evolution, and biogeography. However, neither mitochondrial, nor high-quality nuclear genome sequences are available. This limits phylogenomic, functional, and taxonomic analyses thus far. Here, we tested Illumina short- read, Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) or PacBio/HiFi long-read, and hybrid-read assembly strategies. We used the diploid progenitor speciesR. cassubicifolius(R. auricomuscomplex), and selected the best assemblies in terms of completeness, contiguity, and quality scores. We first assembled the plastome (156 kbp, 85 genes) and mitogenome (1.18 Mbp, 40 genes) sequences using Illumina and Illumina-PacBio-hybrid strategies, respectively. We also present an updated plastome and the first mitogenome phylogeny of Ranunculaceae, including studies of gene loss (e.g.,infA,ycf15, orrps) with evolutionary implications. For the nuclear genome, we favored a PacBio-based assembly three-times polished with filtered reads and subsequently scaffolded into 8 pseudochromosomes by chromatin conformation data (Hi-C) as the representative sequence. We obtained a haploid genome sequence with 2.69 Gbp, 94.1% complete BUSCO ‘embryophyta_odb10’ genes found, and 31,322 annotated genes. The genomic information presented here will improve phylogenomic analyses in this species complex, and will enable advanced functional, evolutionary, and biogeographic analyses for the genus and beyond Ranunculaceae in the future.

Significance Statement

The genusRanunculusis a model system in flowering plants for polyploidy, apomixis, evolution, and biogeography research. We present the first nuclear and mitochondrial genome sequence, and the plastid evolution of Ranunculaceae. Using Illumina, ONT, and PacBio data, we developed an efficient assembly strategy that can be applied to other non-model plants. Results presented here are useful for improving population genomic and phylogenomic analyses, and enable better functional analyses at species, genus and family level.
Neolactotetraosylceramide: A novel non-invasive urinary biomarker for bladder cancer
Authors: Moreira Inês B. , Rossdam Charlotte , Beimdiek Julia , Vicente Manuel M. , Schmitz Jessica , Oberbeck Astrid , Bräsen Jan H. , Tezval Hossein , Buettner Falk F. R.
Published: August 2023

There is an urgent need to identify noninvasive biomarkers for bladder cancer. Here, we applied glycan analytics by multiplex capillary gel electrophoresis coupled to laser-induced fluorescence detection (xCGE-LIF) to unravel the global glycosphingolipid (GSL)-glycan profile of primary tumor tissues and urine samples from bladder cancer patients. Thereby, we detected neolactotetraosylceramide (Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4Glc-Cer, nLc4) at significantly increased levels from tumorigenic regions of bladder tissues compared to non-malignant adjacent material (n = 30). Specific expression of nLc4 in cancer tissue was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining. GSL-glycan profiling by xCGE-LIF of urinary exosomes showed that nLc4 is increased in bladder cancer patients (n = 16) when compared to controls (n = 50), with an overall sensitivity of 57% and specificity of 90%. We set-up an ELISA targeting nLc4-containing urinary exosomes from bladder cancer patients (n = 9) and cancer-free individuals (n = 9) demonstrating an overall sensitivity and specificity of 89% and 78%, respectively.

SIGNFICANCE

This study shows that levels of nLc4 are significantly elevated in bladder cancer tissue and urinary exosomes of bladder cancer patients. Urinary detection of nLc4 by glycan analytics or ELISA outperforms standard diagnostic modalities, facilitating noninvasive bladder cancer diagnosis. Furthermore, nLc4 bears the potential of being a target for bladder cancer therapy.
RNA Pol II antagonises mitotic chromatin folding and chromosome segregation by condensin
Authors: Lebreton Jeremy , Colin Léonard , Chatre Elodie , Bernard Pascal
Published: August 2023

Condensin shapes mitotic chromosomes by folding chromatin into loops but whether it does so by DNA-loop extrusion remains speculative. While loop-extruding cohesin is stalled by transcription, no conclusive evidence has been provided regarding the impact of transcription on condensin despite its conserved enrichment at highly expressed genes. Using degrons of Rpb1 or the torpedo nuclease Dhp1XRN2, we depleted or displaced RNAP2 on chromatin in fission yeast metaphase cells. We show that RNAP2 does not load condensin on DNA but instead retains condensin and hinders its ability to fold mitotic chromatin and to support chromosome segregation, consistent with the stalling of a loop-extruder. Transcription termination by Dhp1 limits such a hindrance. Our results shed a new light on the integrated functioning of condensin and we argue that a tight control of transcription underlies mitotic chromosome assembly by loop-extruding condensin.