bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential expansion of plants with crassulacean acid metabolism in the Anthropocene
Authors: Yu Kailiang , D'Odorico Paolo , Novoa Ana , Collins Scott L , Hartzell Samantha , Huang Heng , Liu Hui , Weigelt Patrick , Porporato Amilcare M
Published: July 2024

An overlooked phenomenon is a potential increase in the distribution and abundance of plants with the highly water-usage-efficient crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). In the present article, we critically analyze recent research to investigate to what extent and why CAM plants may have recently expanded their range and abundance under global change. We discuss the ecophysiological and evolutionary mechanisms linked with CAM succulence and the drivers underlying potential CAM expansion, including drought, warming, and atmospheric carbon dioxide enrichment. We further map the biogeographic pattern of CAM expansion and show that some CAM plants (e.g., Cylindropuntia, Opuntia, and Agave) are expanding and encroaching within dryland landscapes worldwide. Our results collectively highlight the recent expansion of CAM plants, a trend that could be sustained under increasing aridity with climate change. We recommend that CAM expansion be evaluated in a data-model integrated framework to better understand and predict the ecological and socioeconomic consequences of CAM expansion during the Anthropocene.
Proteostasis as a fundamental principle of Tau immunotherapy
Authors: Cruz Esteban , Nisbet Rebecca M , Padmanabhan Pranesh , van Waardenberg Ashley J , Graham Mark E , Nkajja Godfrey , Tapaswi Swara , Connor Bradley J , Robinson Phil , Götz Jürgen
Published: July 2024

The microtubule-associated protein Tau is a driver of neuronal dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies. In this process, Tau initially undergoes subtle changes to its abundance, subcellular localization and a vast array of post-translational modifications including phosphorylation that progressively result in the protein’s somatodendritic accumulation and dysregulation of multiple Tau-dependent cellular processes.

Given the various loss- and gain-of-functions of Tau in disease and the brain-wide changes in the proteome that characterize tauopathies, we asked whether targeting Tau would restore the alterations in proteostasis observed in disease.

Therefore, by phage display, we generated a novel pan-Tau antibody, RNJ1, that preferentially binds human Tau and neutralizes proteopathic seeding activity in multiple cell lines and benchmarked it against a clinically tested pan-Tau antibody, HJ8.5 (murine version of tilavonemab). We then evaluated both antibodies, alone and in combination, in the K3 tauopathy mouse model, showing reduced Tau pathology and improvements in neuronal function following 14 weekly treatments, without obtaining synergy for the combination. These effects were more pronounced in female mice.

To investigate the molecular mechanisms contributing to improvements in neuronal function, we employed quantitative proteomics, phosphoproteomics and kinase prediction analysis to first establish alterations in K3 mice relative to wild-type controls at the proteome level. In female K3 mice, we found 342 differentially abundant proteins, which are predominantly involved in metabolic and microtubule-associated processes, strengthening previously reported findings of defects in several functional domains in multiple tauopathy models. We next asked whether antibody-mediated Tau target engagement indirectly affects levels of deregulated proteins in the K3 model. Importantly, both immunotherapies, in particular RNJ1, induced abundance shifts towards a restoration to wild-type levels (proteostasis). A total of 257 of 342 (∼75%) proteins altered in K3 were closer in abundance to wild-type levels after RNJ1 treatment, and 73% after HJ8.5 treatment. However, the magnitude of these changes was less pronounced than that observed with RNJ1. Furthermore, analysis of the phosphoproteome showed an even stronger restoration effect with RNJ1, with ∼82% of altered phosphopeptides in K3 showing a shift to wild-type levels, and 75% with HJ8.5. Gene set over-representation analysis further confirmed that proteins undergoing restoration are involved in biological pathways affected in K3 mice. Together, our study suggests that a Tau immunotherapy-induced restoration of proteostasis links target engagement and treatment efficacy.
Flower pollination-enhanced CNN for lung disease diagnosis
Authors: Khate Kevisino , Bahadur Sinha Bam , Neelima Arambam
Published: July 2024

The utilization of automated software tools is imperative to enhance the efficiency of lung diseases through the analysis of X-ray images. The main objective of this study is to employ an analysis of chest X-ray images to diagnose lung disease. This study presents an Optimized Convolutional Neural Network (CNNFPA) designed to automate the diagnosis of lung disease. The Flower pollination technique is employed to optimize the hyperparameters associated with the training of the layers of the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). In this paper, a novel model called RCNNFPA model is proposed, which makes use of a pre-trained ResNet50 with its layers frozen. Subsequently, CNNFPA architecture is integrated on top of the frozen ResNet-50 layers. This approach allowed us to leverage the knowledge captured by the ResNet-50 model on a large-scale dataset. To assess the efficacy of the proposed model and perform a comparison study using several classification methodologies, various publicly available datasets comprising images of COVID-19, Viral Pneumonia, Normal, and Tuberculosis are employed. As optimized and elaborated upon in this study, the CNN model is juxtaposed with existing state-of-the-art models. The proposed novel RCNNFPA model demonstrates considerable potential in facilitating the automated screening of individuals affected by different lung diseases.
Quantifying the strength of viral fitness trade-offs between hosts: a meta-analysis of pleiotropic fitness effects
Authors: Wang Xuechun ‘May’ , Muller Julia , McDowell Mya , Rasmussen David A
Published: July 2024

The range of hosts a given virus can infect is widely presumed to be limited by fitness trade-offs between alternative hosts. These fitness trade-offs may arise naturally due to antagonistic pleiotropy if mutations that increase fitness in one host tend to decrease fitness in alternate hosts. Yet there is also growing recognition that positive pleiotropy may be more common than previously appreciated. With positive pleiotropy, mutations have concordant fitness effects such that a beneficial mutation can simultaneously increase fitness in different hosts, providing a genetic mechanism by which selection can overcome fitness trade-offs. How readily evolution can overcome fitness trade-offs therefore depends on the overall distribution of mutational fitness effects between hosts, including the relative frequency of antagonistic versus positive pleiotropy. We therefore conducted a systematic meta-analysis of the pleiotropic fitness effects of viral mutations reported in different hosts. Our analysis indicates that while both antagonistic and positive pleiotropy are common, fitness effects are overall positively correlated between hosts and unconditionally beneficial mutations are not uncommon. Moreover, the relative frequency of antagonistic versus positive pleiotropy may simply reflect the underlying frequency of beneficial and deleterious mutations in individual hosts. Given a mutation is beneficial in one host, the probability that it is deleterious in another host is roughly equal to the probability that any mutation is deleterious, suggesting there is no natural tendency toward antagonistic pleiotropy. The widespread prevalence of positive pleiotropy suggests that many fitness trade-offs may be readily overcome by evolution given the right selection pressures.
Vitamin B5 is a context-dependent dietary regulator of nociception
Authors: Hamoudi Zina , Leung Calvin , Khuong Thang Manh , Cooney Gregory , Neely G Gregory
Published: July 2024

Chronic pain has an enormous impact on the quality of life of billions of patients, families, and caregivers worldwide. Current therapies do not adequately address pain for most patients. A basic understanding of the conserved genetic framework controlling pain may help us develop better, non-addictive pain therapies. Here, we identify new conserved and druggable analgesic targets using the tissue-specific functional genomic screening of candidate “pain” genes in fly. From these efforts, we describe 23 new pain genes for further consideration. This included Acsl, a fatty acid-metabolizing enzyme, and mammalian orthologs involved in arachidonic acid metabolism. The Acsl knockdown and mutant larvae showed delayed nocifensive responses to localized and global noxious heat. Mechanistically, the Acsl knockdown reduced dendritic branching of nociceptive neurons. Surprisingly, the pain phenotype in these animals could be rescued through dietary intervention with vitamin B5, highlighting the interplay between genetics, metabolism, and nutrient environment to establish sensory perception thresholds. Together, our functional genomic screening within the sensory nociceptor has identified new nociception genes that provide a better understanding of pain biology and can help guide the development of new painkillers.
Genomics of natural populations: gene conversion events reveal selected genes within the inversions of Drosophila pseudoobscura
Authors: Schaeffer Stephen W , Richards Stephen , Fuller Zachary L
Published: July 2024

When adaptive phenotypic variation or quantitative trait loci map within an inverted segment of a chromosome, researchers often despair because the suppression of crossing over will prevent the discovery of selective target genes that established the rearrangement. If an inversion polymorphism is old enough, then the accumulation of gene conversion tracts offers the promise that quantitative trait loci or selected loci within inversions can be mapped. The inversion polymorphism of Drosophila pseudoobscura is a model system to show that gene conversion analysis is a useful tool for mapping selected loci within inversions. D. pseudoobscura has over 30 different chromosomal arrangements on the third chromosome (Muller C) in natural populations and their frequencies vary with changes in environmental habitats. Statistical tests of five D. pseudoobscura gene arrangements identified outlier genes within inverted regions that had potentially heritable variation, either fixed amino acid differences or differential expression patterns. We use genome sequences of the inverted third chromosome (Muller C) to infer 98,443 gene conversion tracts for a total coverage of 142 Mb or 7.2× coverage of the 19.7 Mb chromosome. We estimated gene conversion tract coverage in the 2,668 genes on Muller C and tested whether gene conversion coverage was similar among arrangements for outlier vs non-outlier loci. Outlier genes had lower gene conversion tract coverage among arrangements than the non-outlier genes suggesting that selection removes exchanged DNA in the outlier genes. These data support the hypothesis that the third chromosome in D. pseudoobscura captured locally adapted combinations of alleles prior to inversion mutation events.
Diversity of Sex Chromosomes in Vertebrates: Six Novel Sex Chromosomes in Basal Haplochromines (Teleostei: Cichlidae)
Authors: Behrens Kristen A , Koblmueller Stephan , Kocher Thomas D
Published: July 2024

African cichlid fishes are known for their high rates of phenotypic evolution. A rapid rate of diversification is apparent also in the diversity of their sex chromosomes. To date, sex determiners have been identified on 18 of 22 chromosomes in the standard karyotype. Here, we use whole-genome sequencing to characterize the sex chromosomes of seven populations of basal haplochromines, focusing on the genus Pseudocrenilabrus. We identify six new sex chromosome systems, including the first report of a cichlid sex–determining system on linkage group 12. We then quantify the rates and patterns of sex chromosome turnover in this clade. Finally, we test whether some autosomes become sex chromosomes in East African cichlids more often than expected by chance.
Validation of Lung Ultrasound for Coronavirus Disease 2019 Prognostication in an International Multicenter Cohort Study
Authors: Blair Paul W , Siddharthan Trishul , Herrera Phabiola M , Cui Erjia , Waitt Peter , Hossen Shakir , Fong Tiffany C , Anova Lalaine , Erazo Hector , Mount Cristin , Pettrone Kristen , Rothman Richard E , Pollett Simon D , Crainiceanu Ciprian , Clark Danielle V ,   for the Rapid Assessment of Infection with SONography (RAISON) Research Group and the Epidemiology, Immunology, and Clinical Characteristics of Emerging Infectious Diseases with Pandemic Potential (EPICC) Research Group, Kayiira Mubaraka , Wailagala Abdullah , Okello Stephen , Kibuuka Hannah , Dalzell Molly , Liu Gigi , Woods Chris , Columbo Rhonda , Ganesan Anu , Hull Aicha M , Richard Stephanie A
Published: July 2024

Background

Despite many studies evaluating lung ultrasound (LUS) for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prognostication, the generalizability and utility across clinical settings are uncertain.

Methods

Adults (≥18 years of age) with COVID-19 were enrolled at 2 military hospitals, an emergency department, home visits, and a homeless shelter in the United States, and in a referral hospital in Uganda. Participants had a 12-zone LUS scan performed at time of enrollment and clips were read off-site. The primary outcome was progression to higher level of care after the ultrasound scan. We calculated the cross-validated area under the curve for the validation cohort for individual LUS features.

Results

We enrolled 191 participants with COVID-19 (57.9% female; median age, 45.0 years [interquartile range, 31.5–58.0 years]). Nine participants clinically deteriorated. The top predictors of worsening disease in the validation cohort measured by cross-validated area under the curve were B-lines (0.88 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .87–.90]), discrete B-lines (0.87 [95% CI, .85–.88]), oxygen saturation (0.82 [95%, CI, .81–.84]), and A-lines (0.80 [95% CI, .78–.81]).

Conclusions

In an international multisite point-of-care ultrasound cohort, LUS parameters had high discriminative accuracy. Ultrasound can be applied toward triage across a wide breadth of care settings during a pandemic.
Comparative in vitro efficacy of antibiotics against the intracellular reservoir of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Beadell Brent , Yamauchi Joe , Wong-Beringer Annie
Published: July 2024

Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is a leading cause of bloodstream infection. The liver represents the sentinel immune organ for clearance of bloodstream pathogens and eradication of intracellular SA from liver-resident macrophages (Kupffer cells, KCs) eliminates the likely pathogenic reservoir that contributes to persistent bacteraemia.

Objectives

We assessed antimicrobial activity at phagolysosome-mimicking pH, intracellular penetration, and SA eradication within KCs in vitro for clinically prescribed antistaphylococcal agents alone or in combination: vancomycin, daptomycin, ceftaroline, ceftobiprole, oritavancin, oxacillin, cefazolin; rifampin and fosfomycin.

Methods

pH-adjusted broth microdilution assays, intracellular bioaccumulation assays, and intracellular killing assays against clinical bloodstream isolates were performed using a murine KC line with study agents.

Results

Rifampin and β-lactams exhibited enhanced activity [2- to 16-fold minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) decrease] at phagolysosomal pH while vancomycin, oritavancin, daptomycin and fosfomycin demonstrated reduced activity (2- to 32-fold MIC increase in order of least to greatest potency reduction). All agents evaluated had poor to modest intracellular to extracellular concentration ratios (0.024–7.8), with exceptions of rifampin and oritavancin (intracellular to extracellular ratios of 17.4 and 78.2, respectively). Finally, we showed that the first-line treatment for SA bacteraemia (SAB), vancomycin, performed worse than all other tested antibiotics in eradicating intracellular SA at human Cmax concentration (0.20 log cfu decrease), while oritavancin performed better than all other agents alone (2.05 versus 1.06–1.36 log cfu decrease).

Conclusions

Our findings raise concerns about the efficacy of commonly prescribed antibiotics against intracellular SA reservoirs and emphasize the need to consider targeting pathogen eradication from the liver to achieve early control of SAB.
Nanoscale dynamics and localization of single endogenous mRNAs in stress granules
Authors: Sugawara Ko , Uno Shin-nosuke , Kamiya Mako , Sakamoto Akihiko , Urano Yasuteru , Funatsu Takashi , Okabe Kohki
Published: July 2024

Stress granules (SGs) are cytoplasmic messenger ribonucleoprotein granules transiently formed in stressed mammalian cells. Although SG components have been well characterized, detailed insights into the molecular behavior inside SGs remain unresolved. We investigated nanoscale dynamics and localization of endogenous mRNAs in SGs combining single mRNA tracking and super-resolution localization microscopy. First, we developed a methodology for tracking single mRNAs within SGs, revealing that although mRNAs in SGs are mainly stationary (∼40%), they also move in a confined (∼25%) or freely diffusing (∼35%) manner. Second, the super-resolution localization microscopy showed that the mRNAs in SGs are heterogeneously distributed and partially form high-density clusters. Third, we simultaneously performed single mRNA tracking and super-resolution microscopy in SGs, demonstrating that single mRNA trajectories are mainly found around high-density clusters. Finally, a quantitative analysis of mRNA localization and dynamics during stress removal was conducted using live super-resolution imaging and single-molecule tracking. These results suggest that SGs have a highly organized structure that enables dynamic regulation of the mRNAs at the nanoscale, which is responsible for the ordered formation and the wide variety of functions of SGs.
Exploring the use of conducted energy weapons on subjects with a perceived mental condition
Authors: Sytsma Victoria A , Laming Erick
Published: July 2024

Given the prominence of the CEW in law enforcement, and the gaps in evidence around CEW use on persons with mental illness, using police administrative data we investigate whether perceived civilian mental condition influences CEW effectiveness, and how (as indicated by severity of application mode) and why CEW was used. We find subject mental condition is not a significant predictor of CEW effectiveness but is the strongest predictor of CEW application severity, and of CEW display or deployment for the purpose of both protecting the officer and protecting the public—even when controlling for subject resistance level and weapon possession. Results are discussed.
Firms’ digitalization during the COVID-19 pandemic: a tale of two stories
Authors: Avalos Edgar , Cirera Xavier , Cruz Marcio , Iacovone Leonardo , Medvedev Denis , Nayyar Gaurav , Reyes Ortega Santiago
Published: July 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digital transformation of businesses. Using a unique global panel dataset, this paper documents the patterns of digital adoption during the pandemic across firms in 57 (mostly developing) countries. The data show the tale of two stories. On one hand, the pandemic drove firms to increase the use of digital platforms and invest in digital solutions. On the other hand, the digital divide increased across several dimensions. There remain substantial gaps between small and large firms as well as across sectors, particularly for new investments in digital solutions. Firms that did not use any digital platform or channel before the pandemic, also lagged in their response to the pandemic, increasing the gap with those that were more digitally ready. Moreover, although the share of online sales across firms for all size groups increased, there is a growing concentration of online sales among top firms. The paper analyzes some of the factors associated with this increase in the digital divide and discusses the policy implications addressing the widening digital divide and leveraging the benefits of rapid digitalization.
Innovation policy responses to address vulnerabilities of national innovation systems: long-lasting impacts of COVID-19
Authors: Maliphol Sira , Aridi Anwar , Lee Jeong-Dong , Woodson Thomas
Published: July 2024

This special issue explores the vulnerabilities of national innovation systems (NIS) which were exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent policy responses. New technologies and solutions were needed such as new drugs, medical equipment, and treatments, and new innovative institutions, organizations, and capabilities were needed to respond quickly, develop, and offset the acute demand. While some policy responses were effective, others fell short or were completely absent. The phenomenon provided a unique opportunity to uncover how governments and industry sought to mitigate the negative impacts and to prepare for future crises by building more resilient NIS. The five articles included in this special issue identify some of the vulnerabilities of NIS, suggesting that greater research on the resilience of NIS is needed if we were to weather future crises more effectively. Subsequent policy implications for innovation systems are drawn to address the vulnerabilities highlighted.
Linking physiological drought resistance traits to growth and mortality of three northeastern tree species
Authors: Barry Alexandra M , Bein Bean , Zhang Yong-jiang , Wason Jay W
Published: July 2024

Climate change is raising concerns about how forests will respond to extreme droughts, heat waves and their co-occurrence. In this greenhouse study, we tested how carbon and water relations relate to seedling growth and mortality of northeastern US trees during and after extreme drought, warming, and combined drought and warming. We compared the response of our focal species red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) with a common associate (paper birch, Betula papyrifera Marsh.) and a species expected to increase abundance in this region with climate change (northern red oak, Quercus rubra L.). We tracked growth and mortality, photosynthesis and water use of 216 seedlings of these species through a treatment and a recovery year. Each red spruce seedling was planted in containers either alone or with another seedling to simulate potential competition, and the seedlings were exposed to combinations of drought (irrigated, 15-d ‘short’ or 30-d ‘long’) and temperature (ambient or 16 days at +3.5 °C daily maximum) treatments. We found dominant effects of the drought reducing photosynthesis, midday water potential, and growth of spruce and birch, but that oak showed considerable resistance to drought stress. The effects of planting seedlings together were moderate and likely due to competition for limited water. Despite high temperatures reducing photosynthesis for all species, the warming imposed in this study minorly impacted growth only for oak in the recovery year. Overall, we found that the diverse water-use strategies employed by the species in our study related to their growth and recovery following drought stress. This study provides physiological evidence to support the prediction that native species to this region like red spruce and paper birch are susceptible to future climate extremes that may favor other species like northern red oak, leading to potential impacts on tree community dynamics under climate change.
Phacoemulsification to manual small-incision cataract surgery: transfer of skills study in a simulated environment
Authors: Le Anton Quoc Dung , Boberg-Ans Lars Christian , Konge Lars , la Cour Morten , Bourcier Tristan , Thomsen Ann Sofia Skou
Published: July 2024

Purpose:

To investigate whether phacoemulsification (PE) experience impacts and transfers to the skill acquisition of novices in manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS) within a simulation environment.

Setting:

Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Design:

Prospective controlled experimental study.

Methods:

The study included 29 residents or specialist in ophthalmology with no prior MSICS experience. Participants were required to have either (1) proficiency on the EyeSi surgical simulator (PE group [PG]) or (2) no prior extensive exposure to the EyeSi simulator or any PE surgery experience as a primary surgeon (control group [CG]). Possible skill transfer was assessed using a test on the HelpMeSee virtual-reality simulator, including 9 modules and 30 steps (points). A pass/fail score was determined at 20 points (of 30 points). Performance scores were analyzed using independent samples t tests, pass rates using the Fisher exact test, and individual modules using Fisher-Freeman-Halton analysis.

Results:

The PG performed significantly better in overall performance score (mean ± SD, PG; 21.8 points ± 2.3 vs CG; 18.9 points ± 2.2, P = .002, t-value = −3.39) and pass rates (PG; 72% vs CG; 22%, P = .018). The subanalysis for individual modules demonstrated significant differences exclusively in the capsulorhexis and cortex removal modules.

Conclusions:

The results suggest a positive interprocedural transfer of skills between PE and MSICS. Pretraining and experience in PE demonstrated a significant effect on the performance of MSICS within a simulation environment. These findings suggest that PE experience provides an advantage before MSICS training in surgical residency programs.
The unmet mental health needs of U.S. adults living with chronic pain
Authors: De La Rosa Jennifer S. , Brady Benjamin R. , Herder Katherine E. , Wallace Jessica S. , Ibrahim Mohab M. , Allen Alicia M. , Meyerson Beth E. , Suhr Kyle A. , Vanderah Todd W.
Published: July 2024

Previous research suggests that individuals with mental health needs and chronic pain may be less likely to use mental health treatment compared with those with mental health needs only. Yet, few studies have investigated the existence of population-level differences in mental health treatment use. We analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey (n = 31,997) to address this question. We found that chronic pain was associated with end-to-end disparities in the mental health journeys of U.S. adults: (1) Those living with chronic pain are overrepresented among U.S. adults with mental health needs; (2) among U.S. adults with mental health needs, those living with chronic pain had a lower prevalence of mental health treatment use; (3) among U.S. adults who used mental health treatment, those living with chronic pain had a higher prevalence of screening positive for unremitted anxiety or depression; (4) among U.S. adults living with both chronic pain and mental health needs, suboptimal mental health experiences were more common than otherwise—just 44.4% of those living with mental health needs and co-occurring chronic pain reported use of mental health treatment and screened negative for unremitted anxiety and depression, compared with 71.5% among those with mental health needs only. Overall, our results suggest that U.S. adults with chronic pain constitute an underrecognized majority of those living with unremitted anxiety/depression symptoms and that the U.S. healthcare system is not yet adequately equipped to educate, screen, navigate to care, and successfully address their unmet mental health needs.
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Authors: McCune Sydney A. , Sisk Paula M. , Check Jennifer F. , Perrin Maryanne T.
Published: July 2024

Purpose:

This study aimed to longitudinally investigate the preterm infant feeding regimens, feeding behaviors, effect on infant growth, and caregiver perceptions and experiences with feeding in the first 4 weeks following hospital discharge.

Background:

Preterm infants face high nutritional risk due to their underdeveloped gastrointestinal systems and feeding coordination.

Methods:

Caregivers of preterm infants were recruited to participate in a weekly telephone survey for the first 4 weeks following the infant's hospital discharge. Responses for infant feeding behaviors and caregiver experiences were scored on a 3-point Likert scale. Growth and feeding data were collected from the infant's first neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) developmental follow-up visit.

Results:

Twenty-four caregivers completed the study. Changes in feeding regimens were common (8/24 infants; 33%), with the percentage of infants receiving any human milk feedings decreasing from 70% at hospital discharge to 54% at 4 weeks post-discharge. Poor infant feeding skills were weakly associated with poor caregiver feeding experiences, and 46% of caregivers reported contacting their healthcare provider with feeding-related questions. Thirty-eight percent of infants required nutritional intervention at NICU developmental follow-up visit. Infants who received fortified feedings during the first 4 weeks after hospital discharge grew an average of 2.5 g/day faster than infants who did not receive fortified feedings.

Conclusion:

The postdischarge period for preterm infants is characterized by feeding regimen changes, a decrease in human milk use, and caregiver questions about feeding.

Implications for Practice and Research:

Future studies should further investigate the period after hospital discharge to enable better feeding support for preterm infants and their caregivers.
Neighborhood Environment and Perceived Stress Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Childbearing Black Women
Authors: Giurgescu Carmen , Adaji Rosemary , Hyer Suzanne , Wheeler Jenna , Misra Dawn P.
Published: July 2024

Purpose:

The purpose of this study among pregnant and postpartum Black women was twofold: (1) to compare levels of perceived stress, depressive symptoms, social support, and neighborhood disorder and crime before the pandemic vs during the pandemic; and (2) to examine the association of perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and social support with neighborhood disorder and crime at both time points.

Methods:

This was a prospective study as part of the Biosocial Impact on Black Births, a longitudinal study that examined the role of maternal factors on preterm birth among Black women. A sample of 143 women were included who responded to survey questions during pregnancy prior to the pandemic and again after birth, during the pandemic. Women completed the COVID survey between May 21, 2020, and January 28, 2021.

Results:

The levels of perceived stress (70.75 and 76.28, respectively, P < .01) and social support (17.01 and 18.78, respectively, P < .01) were lower during the pandemic than prior to the pandemic. Social support, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms were significantly correlated with the pre-pandemic measures of perceived neighborhood disorder and crime. Perceived stress and depressive symptoms were also significantly correlated with pandemic measures of perceived neighborhood.

Conclusion:

Women reported lower levels of perceived stress during the pandemic than prior to the pandemic, but neighborhood characteristics were consistently associated with perceived stress and depressive symptoms both prior to and during the pandemic. Further exploration is warranted to better understand these relationships.
Estimation of Cardiac Output Under Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Comparing Thermodilution Methods to 3D Echocardiography
Authors: Linden Katharina , Schmandt Mathias , Muders Thomas , Theuerkauf Nils , Schewe Jens-Christian , Herberg Ulrike , Putensen Christian , Ehrentraut Stefan Felix , Kreyer Stefan
Published: July 2024

Thermodilution methods to determine cardiac output (CO) may be affected by veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). We compared CO estimations by pulmonary arterial thermodilution using a pulmonary arterial catheter (COPAC), transpulmonary thermodilution (COTPTD), and three-dimensional echocardiography (3DEcho) (CO3DEcho) in 18 patients under veno-venous ECMO. Comparisons between CO3DEcho and COPAC, and COTPTD were performed using correlation statistics and Bland–Altman analysis. Blood flow on ECMO support ranged from 4.3 to 5.8 L/min (median 4.9 L/min). Cardiac output measured with three-dimensional echocardiography was 5.2 L/min (3.8/5.9), COPAC was 7.3 L/min (5.9/7.9), and COTPTD was 7.3 L/min (6/8.2) (median [25%/75% percentile]). Bland–Altman analysis of CO3DEcho and COPAC revealed a mean bias of −2.06 L/min, with limits of agreement from −4.16 to 0.04 L/min. Bland–Altman analysis of CO3DEcho and COTPTD revealed a mean bias of −2.22 L/min, with limits of agreement from −4.18 to −0.25 L/min. We found a negative mean bias and negative limits of agreement between CO3DEcho and COPAC/COTPTD. We concluded an influence on the estimation of CO by thermodilution under ECMO most likely due to loss of indicator resulting in an overestimation of CO. Clinicians should consider this when monitoring thermodilution-based CO under ECMO.
Resting-State Functional Connectivity of the Cerebellum in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain
Authors: Zhang Shanshan , Zhang Guifang , Bao Shanshan , Tan Jiaqi , He Rongxing , Wang Hongjiang , Yan Shenglan , Wang Chuhuai
Published: July 2024

Objective

Chronic low back pain affects nociceptive responses in the cerebellum, which leads to increased pain perception and sensorimotor control dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate altered functional connectivity in the anterior and posterior lobes of the cerebellum during chronic low back pain.

Design

Twenty patients with chronic low back pain and 18 healthy participants underwent 3.0 T resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The bilateral lobule V of the anterior cerebellum and Crus I of the posterior cerebellum were selected as the region of interest for identifying the corresponding networks.

Results

The left lobule V had a greater intrinsic connectivity with the left insular cortex, left orbitofrontal cortex, and bilateral medial prefrontal cortex in patients with chronic low back pain. In contrast, the right lobule V and bilateral Crus I had a significantly decreased connectivity with the contralateral multimodal cerebral networks, including the default mode network, salience network, and emotional network.

Conclusions

The cerebellum had mechanistic implications in pain-related changes, which are involved in motor control, cognition, and emotion processing. These findings provide a novel perspective on the role of functional subregions in chronic low back pain, which add to the growing body of evidence that the cerebellum can be a potential target for noninvasive brain stimulation for chronic pain treatment.
Artificial T1-Weighted Postcontrast Brain MRI
Authors: Haase Robert , Pinetz Thomas , Kobler Erich , Bendella Zeynep , Gronemann Christian , Paech Daniel , Radbruch Alexander , Effland Alexander , Deike Katerina
Published: July 2024

Objectives

Reducing gadolinium-based contrast agents to lower costs, the environmental impact of gadolinium-containing wastewater, and patient exposure is still an unresolved issue. Published methods have never been compared. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of 2 reimplemented state-of-the-art deep learning methods (settings A and B) and a proposed method for contrast signal extraction (setting C) to synthesize artificial T1-weighted full-dose images from corresponding noncontrast and low-dose images.

Materials and Methods

In this prospective study, 213 participants received magnetic resonance imaging of the brain between August and October 2021 including low-dose (0.02 mmol/kg) and full-dose images (0.1 mmol/kg). Fifty participants were randomly set aside as test set before training (mean age ± SD, 52.6 ± 15.3 years; 30 men). Artificial and true full-dose images were compared using a reader-based study. Two readers noted all false-positive lesions and scored the overall interchangeability in regard to the clinical conclusion. Using a 5-point Likert scale (0 being the worst), they scored the contrast enhancement of each lesion and its conformity to the respective reference in the true image.

Results

The average counts of false-positives per participant were 0.33 ± 0.93, 0.07 ± 0.33, and 0.05 ± 0.22 for settings A–C, respectively. Setting C showed a significantly higher proportion of scans scored as fully or mostly interchangeable (70/100) than settings A (40/100, P < 0.001) and B (57/100, P < 0.001), and generated the smallest mean enhancement reduction of scored lesions (−0.50 ± 0.55) compared with the true images (setting A: −1.10 ± 0.98; setting B: −0.91 ± 0.67, both P < 0.001). The average scores of conformity of the lesion were 1.75 ± 1.07, 2.19 ± 1.04, and 2.48 ± 0.91 for settings A–C, respectively, with significant differences among all settings (all P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The proposed method for contrast signal extraction showed significant improvements in synthesizing postcontrast images. A relevant proportion of images showing inadequate interchangeability with the reference remains at this dosage.
Comparative Study on the Effectiveness, Safety, and Economic Costs of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Colorectal Tumors Under Conscious Sedation and General Anesthesia
Authors: Li Yanrong , Wang Jing , Hong Ye , Wu Qi
Published: July 2024

Background:

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used for en bloc removal of colorectal tumors. Although colorectal ESD is ideally conducted under conscious sedation, it is often performed under general anesthesia because of its complexity and lengthy duration. Currently, there is limited research on colorectal ESD performed under conscious sedation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and economic cost of colorectal ESD under conscious sedation compared to general anesthesia.

Materials and Methods:

Retrospective analysis of 301 patients who underwent ESD treatment for colorectal tumors at the Endoscopy Center of Peking University Cancer Hospital from January 2018 to November 2020. Patients were divided into the sedation group (group S, n=88) and the general anesthesia group (group A, n=213) based on the anesthetic method. To balance the confounding factors between the 2 groups, 75 matched pairs were obtained after using propensity score matching (PSM). Intraoperative and postoperative parameters were then compared between the matched groups.

Results:

After PSM, there was no statistically significant difference between group S and group A in terms of the surgical time, en bloc resection rate, and complete resection rate. There was also no statistically significant difference in the occurrence rates of bleeding, perforation, and post-ESD electrocoagulation syndrome (PEECS) between the 2 groups. However, the length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in group S (1.23±0.89d) than in group A (5.92±3.05d) (P<0.05). The hospitalization costs were also significantly lower in group S (16482.34±13154.32 yuan) compared with group A (34743.74±13779.40 yuan) (P<0.05).  

Conclusions:

Compared to general anesthesia, performing ESD for colorectal tumors under conscious sedation has equivalent effectiveness and safety while shortening the hospital stay and reducing the economic costs.
Joint Decision-Making Communication Between Spouses Affected by Aphasia
Authors: Husak Ryan S. , Wallace Sarah E. , Marshall Robert C. , Meulenbroek Peter
Published: July 2024

Aphasia therapy should address communication in everyday contexts. One type of social interaction that occurs frequently in the daily lives of spouses is joint decision-making. Currently, no known study has investigated how spouses collaboratively make decisions when one of the spouses has aphasia and the other one does not. The purpose of this study was to analyze the communicative interactions of married couples affected by aphasia while they engaged in joint decision-making conversations. Fourteen married couples, in which one spouse had aphasia and the other one did not, completed two joint decision-making tasks. The tasks required the participants to formulate mutually approved lists of items deemed essential for their survival in two hypothetical “survival-type” scenarios. When completing the tasks, the participants’ communicative interactions were audio-video recorded. Next, the participants’ conversations were transcribed, and their “moves” were coded for speech functions, as described in the systemic functional linguistics literature. Participants with aphasia produced fewer overall moves than the spouses without aphasia in their joint decision-making conversations. The participants with aphasia also produced fewer continuing moves than their spouses without aphasia. A slight difference between the participants with and without aphasia was identified in the percentages of opening versus sustaining moves produced. All participants were generally supportive of the comments, ideas, and suggestions posed by their spouses during their collaborative interactions. This study identified similarities and discrepancies in the pattern of speech functions used by the participants with and without aphasia. Suggestions for tailoring interventions and guiding future research are included.
Group-theoretic analysis of symmetry-preserving deployable structures and metamaterials
Authors: Chirikjian Gregory S.
Published: July 2024

Many deployable structures in nature, as well as human-made mechanisms, preserve symmetry as their configurations evolve. Examples in nature include blooming flowers, dilation of the iris within the human eye, viral capsid maturation and molecular and bacterial motors. Engineered examples include opening umbrellas, elongating scissor jacks, variable apertures in cameras, expanding Hoberman spheres and some kinds of morphing origami structures. In these cases, the structures either preserve a discrete symmetry group or are described as an evolution from one discrete symmetry group to another of the same type as the structure deploys. Likewise, elastic metamaterials built from lattice structures can also preserve symmetry type while passively deforming and changing lattice parameters. A mathematical formulation of such transitions/deployments is articulated here. It is shown that if

X

is Euclidean space,

G

is a continuous group of motions of Euclidean space and

Γ

is the type of the discrete subgroup of

G

describing the symmetries of the deploying structure, then the symmetry of the evolving structure can be described by time-dependent subgroups of

G

of the form

Γ

α
t

:
=

α
t

Γ

α
t

−
1

, where

α
t

is a time-dependent affine transformation. Then, instead of considering the whole structure in

X

, a ‘sector’ of it that lives in the orbit space

Γ

α
t

\
X

can be considered at each instant in time, and instead of considering all motions in

G

, only representatives from right cosets in the space

Γ

α
t

\
G

need to be considered.

This article is part of the theme issue 'Current developments in elastic and acoustic metamaterials science (Part 1)'.
Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus; an unforeseen cause of abortion in Regional Australia.
Authors: Owusu-Ansa Immanuella , Ramadas Manjeera , Jacob Nikhitha , Ayeni Femi E
Published: July 2024

Campylobacter fetus (C.fetus), a gram-negative bacterium, is an established cause of abortion and infertility in cattle, sheep and goats. Human infections have been rarely reported. In contrast to TORCH infections, this campylobacter species is hardly recognised as a cause of abortion in humans. In 1947, R. Vincent, Dumas and Picard were the first to report human infection of C.fetus, which resulted in septic abortion in the second trimester. Since then, there have only been 11 reported cases in pregnant women worldwide and no published reports in Australia, pregnant or otherwise. In this study, we compare our case to the first reported infection of C.fetus in 1947 with the aim to raise awareness and educate doctors and midwives, subsequently impacting prenatal and antenatal counselling in these regions.
Virulence Genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from the Urine of HIV Patients and Pregnant Women in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Authors: Onwubuche Kelechi , Otokunefor Kome , Abeni Barira Azeez , Sophie Adewuyi-Oseni
Published: July 2024

Virulence genes are known to occur in microorganisms which accelerates their pathogenicity and can also determine the extent at which infection occurs. The study therefore was aimed at determining the virulence genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in urine samples of HIV patients and pregnant women attending University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. One hundred and thirty (130) urine samples were collected from HIV patients and pregnant women. The midstream urine from each participant were analysed for presence/prevalence and isolation of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using cystine lactose electrolyte deficient agar (CLED) media. PCR assays were used for screening seven (7) virulence encoding genes which included, mrkD, rmpA, entB for Klebsiella pneumoniae and lasB, algD, exoS and plcH for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results highlighted that entB (n=7, 36.8%) and plcH (n=3, 27.3%) were the most frequent virulence gene for Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa respectively. Furthermore, the virulence genes detection was higher for Klebsiella pneumoniae in HIV patients when compared with pregnant women. It also revealed the presence of virulence genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa from pregnant women and its absence in HIV patients,