bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Varicella vaccine meningoencephalitis in a child receiving autologous bone marrow transplantation
Authors: Coralie Raad , Ziad Chebel , Christian Renaud , Pierre Teira , Chantal Buteau , Bruce Tapiéro , Philippe Ovetchkine
Published: July 2023

Background

Varicella vaccine, a live‐attenuated Oka‐strain of varicella zoster virus (VZV), is a recommended childhood vaccine by many countries. As with wild varicella strain, after primary infection, the live‐attenuated virus can establish latency in sensory ganglia and reactivate causing vaccine‐strain illnesses: herpes zoster (HZ), visceral or peripheral and central nervous system dissemination. We report a case of early reactivation of live‐attenuated virus—HZ and meningoencephalitis—in an immunocompromised child.

Methods

This is a retrospective descriptive report of a case, in a tertiary pediatric hospital, CHU Sainte‐Justine (Montréal, Canada).

Results

An 18 month‐year old girl diagnosed with a primitive neuro‐ectodermal tumor (PNET) received the day prior to diagnosis, a first varicella vaccine (MMRV). She received chemotherapy 20 days post MMRV vaccine and autologous bone marrow transplantation 3 months post vaccination. She was considered not eligible, to acyclovir prophylaxis prior transplantation (positive for VZV IgG and negative for herpes simplex virus IgG by ELISA). At day 1 post transplantation, she developed dermatomal HZ and meningoencephalitis. Oka‐strain varicella was isolated, she was treated with acyclovir and foscarnet. Neurologic status improved in 5 days. Control of VZV viral load in cerebrospinal fluid showed a slow decrease to from 5.24 log 10 copies/mL to 2.14 log 10 copies/mL in 6 weeks. No relapse was observed. She recovered without neurological sequelae.

Conclusions

Our experience highlights the importance of conducting a thorough medical history regarding vaccination and serological status of newly immunocompromised patients. Intensive chemotherapy succeeding live vaccine administration <4 weeks could have influenced early and severe viral reactivation. Early initiation of prophylactic antiviral treatment is questioned in such circumstances.
Women's social experiences before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A 3‐part measurement burst study among women in midlife with health risks
Authors: Arigo Danielle
Published: July 2023

Women in midlife (ages 40–60) with elevated risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) often rely on social networks during times of high stress. Precautions against the spread of COVID‐19—particularly stay‐at‐home‐orders—could have limited positive social experiences during a stressful time, but also could have reduced unwanted negative social experiences. This report presents findings from an ecological momentary assessment study that used 3 bursts of 5 surveys per day for 5 days, to test for changes in women's social experiences: prior to COVID‐19 (2019), during stay‐at‐home‐orders (April‐May 2020), and during initial reopening (August‐September 2020). Participants were women aged 40–60 with one or more CVD risk factors (e.g., hypertension; N = 35, MAge = 51, MBMI = 32.2 kg/m2). Momentary reports showed that the number of positive interactions experienced in daily life did not significantly change from before to during the pandemic; positive interactions were more variable during stay‐at‐home orders than pre‐COVID, but rebounded by initial reopening (to pre‐COVID levels). In contrast, the number of negative social interactions and social comparisons decreased from before COVID to stay‐at‐home orders, and remained lower during initial reopening; these experiences were also less variable during stay‐at‐home orders and initial reopening than before COVID‐19. Thus, in a vulnerable group of women with health risks, there is little evidence that social experiences worsened during the first 6 months of the COVID‐19 pandemic; decreases in (potentially) negative social experiences may be a small but beneficial side effect of short‐term public health precautions.
Impact of blue light on skin pigmentation in patients with melasma
Authors: Li Lingjia , Jiang Xin , Tu Yin , Yang Yaqi , Zhang Xin , Gu Hua , He Li
Published: July 2023

Background

The difference in skin pigmentation induced by blue light between melasma patients and healthy people has not been reported. This study aimed to explore the impact of different doses of blue light irradiation on the pigmentation of the skin of non‐exposed areas in female melasma patients with III‐IV‐type skin and healthy women.

Materials and methods

This observational study enrolled patients with melasma and healthy people at the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University between January and April 2021. The outcomes were the degree of pigmentation, ΔL*, and ΔITA* values.

Results

Forty‐two (21/group) participants were enrolled. After irradiation with different doses of blue light, different degrees of pigmentation could be observed in the irradiated area of the skin of female melasma patients and healthy women. The △L* and △ITA* values in the irradiated area of the skin of healthy women were higher than in female melasma patients after blue light irradiation at 20 J/cm2 (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the pigmentation scores, △L* values, and △ITA* values in the irradiated areas of skin at different time points after irradiation with the other doses of blue light (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Blue light at 20 J/cm2 induced a smaller change in pigmentation in melasma patients than in healthy women, but the effect of blue light at 40–80 J/cm2 was similar.
Cell‐ and development‐specific degradation controls the levels of mixed‐linkage glucan in sorghum leaves
Authors: Kim Sang‐Jin , Zemelis‐Durfee Starla , Mckinley Brian , Sokoloski Rylee , Aufdemberge William , Mullet John , Brandizzi Federica
Published: July 2023

Mixed‐linkage glucan (MLG) is a component of the cell wall (CW) of grasses and is composed of glucose monomers linked by β‐1,3 and β‐1,4 bonds. MLG is believed to have several biological functions, such as the mobilizable storage of carbohydrates and structural support of the CW. The extracellular levels of MLG are largely controlled by rates of synthesis mediated by cellulose synthase‐like (CSL) enzymes, and turnover by lichenases. Economically important crops like sorghum accumulate MLG to variable levels during development. While in sorghum, like other grasses, there is one major MLG synthase (CSLF6), the identity of lichenases is yet unknown. To fill this gap, we identified three sorghum lichenases (SbLCH1‐3) and characterized them in leaves in relation to the expression of SbCSLF6, and the abundance of MLG and starch. We established that SbLCH1‐3 are secreted to the apoplast, consistent with a role of degrading MLG extracellularly. Furthermore, while SbCSLF6 expression was associated with cell development, the SbLCH genes exhibited distinct development‐, cell‐type‐specific and diel‐regulated expression. Therefore, our study identifies three functional sorghum MLG lichenases and highlights that MLG accumulation in sorghum leaves is likely controlled by the activity of lichenases that tune MLG levels, possibly to suit distinct cell and developmental needs in planta. These findings have important implications for improving the growth, yield, and composition of sorghum as a feedstock.
Olfaction evaluation in dogs with sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome
Authors: Abrams Kenneth L. , Ward Daniel A. , Sabiniewicz Agnieszka , Hummel Thomas
Published: July 2023

Purpose

To evaluate olfaction in dogs with sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) compared with sighted dogs and blind dogs without SARDS as control groups.

Animals Studied

Forty client‐owned dogs.

Procedure

Olfactory threshold testing was performed on three groups: SARDS, sighted, and blind/non‐SARDS using eugenol as the test odorant. The olfactory threshold was determined when subjects indicated the detection of a specific eugenol concentration with behavioral responses. Olfactory threshold, age, body weight, and environmental room factors were evaluated.

Results

Sixteen dogs with SARDS, 12 sighted dogs, and 12 blind/non‐SARDS dogs demonstrated mean olfactory threshold pen numbers of 2.8 (SD = 1.4), 13.8 (SD = 1.4), and 13.4 (SD = 1.1), respectively, which correspond to actual mean concentrations of 0.017 g/mL, 1.7 × 10−13 g/mL and 4.26 × 10−13 g/mL, respectively. Dogs with SARDS had significantly poorer olfactory threshold scores compared with the two control groups (p < .001), with no difference between the control groups (p = .5). Age, weight, and room environment did not differ between the three groups.

Conclusions

Dogs with SARDS have severely decreased olfaction capabilities compared with sighted dogs and blind/non‐SARDS dogs. This finding supports the suspicion that SARDS is a systemic disease causing blindness, endocrinopathy, and hyposmia. Since the molecular pathways are similar in photoreceptors, olfactory receptors, and steroidogenesis with all using G‐protein coupled receptors in the cell membrane, the cause of SARDS may exist at the G‐protein associated interactions with intracellular cyclic nucleotides. Further investigations into G‐protein coupled receptors pathway and canine olfactory receptor genes in SARDS patients may be valuable in revealing the cause of SARDS.
Effects of propofol alone or in combination with ketamine on intraocular pressure in unpremedicated dogs
Authors: Şenocak Mümin Gökhan , Yanmaz Latif Emrah
Published: July 2023

Objective

To determine the effects of propofol (P) alone and in combination with ketamine (KP) at ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 on intraocular pressure (IOP) in unpremedicated dogs.

Animals Studied

A total of 28 cross‐bred healthy dogs.

Procedures

Dogs were randomly assigned to one of four groups (n = 7 per group) to receive intravenous P or KP at 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 ratios, respectively. The infusion was administered at 0.6 mg/kg/min for 60 min. IOP, cardiorespiratory variables, rectal temperature (RT), and pedal reflex were recorded every 5 min for 60 min, starting from baseline (BL).

Results

There was a statistically significant increase in IOP in all groups: P (p = .011), KP 1:1 (p = .003), KP 1:2 (p = .023), and KP 1:3 (p = .008). The IOP increase was less pronounced in the KP 1:2 group and was only significant (p = .023) at T45 compared with BL. A significant correlation was observed between IOP and SpO2 in P (r = −.215, p = .02), KP 1:2 (r = −.579, p < .01), and KP 1:3 (r = −.402, p < .01) groups. IOP significantly increased due to decreased SpO2 below 86.5% (p < .05).

Conclusions

Propofol alone and in combination with ketamine may increase preexisting IOP in unpremedicated dogs. SpO2 levels below 86.5% may trigger an increase in IOP. Administering KP in a 1:2 ratio at an infusion rate of 0.6 mg/kg/min does not significantly alter IOP for under 45 min in unpremedicated dogs with sufficient oxygenation.
Impact of periarticular osteophytes of the distal tarsus diagnosed in nonlame yearling Standardbred horses on racing performance
Authors: McCoy Annette M. , Scolman Kara N.
Published: July 2023

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify the radiographic prevalence of periarticular osteophytes of the distal tarsus in nonlame yearling Standardbred horses, and to evaluate its potential impact on race performance.

Study design

Cross‐sectional cohort study.

Animals

Client‐owned yearling Standardbred horses (n = 416).

Methods

Bilateral tarsal radiographs were available from all horses for review. Osteophytes were measured on radiographs using clinical visualization software and categorized by size. Racing records were obtained from the United States Trotting Association. Regression analysis was used to determine associations between presence or size of periarticular osteophytes and performance parameters with sex and gait covariates.

Results

Of 416 Standardbred yearlings without clinical lameness, 113 (27.1%) had distal tarsal periarticular osteophytes. Regression analyses revealed few associations between the presence of periarticular osteophytes and performance parameters. Affected horses had fewer starts at 4 years of age (incident rate ratio [IRR] 0.92, p = .01) and fewer lifetime starts (IRR 0.95, p = .003), but the effect size was small. Within the affected group, osteophyte size was only associated with number of starts at 3 (IRR 0.67, p < .0001). Sex and gait affected many performance parameters.

Conclusion

The prevalence of distal tarsal periarticular osteophytes was similar to that in other breeds. Periarticular osteophytes of the distal tarsus appeared to be a largely incidental finding in nonlame yearling Standardbreds intended for harness racing.

Clinical significance

Distal tarsal periarticular osteophytes in young, nonlame Standardbred horses should affect racing potential only minimally. This is in contrast to reports from other disciplines.
Elevated CO2 concentration enhances Oryza sativa seed shattering and affects seed shattering gene expression
Authors: Balbinot Andrisa , Viana Vívian E. , Feijó Anderson R. , Fipke Marcus V. , Heck Tamara , Ziska Lewis H. , Markus Catarine , Merotto Aldo , Avila Luis A.
Published: July 2023

Weedy rice (Oryza spp.) is widely recognised as a major constraint in cultivated rice systems globally. Seed shattering is related to the invasiveness and persistence of weedy ecotypes in field and exacerbates control of weedy rice in cultivated rice systems. Shattering traits are controlled genetically and by different environmental conditions. At present, a rapidly changing environment, including rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, could alter shattering frequency, with subsequent effects on weed seed input and competition. The study aimed to evaluate the interaction between weedy rice seed shattering and transcriptional seed shattering‐regulation genes as affected by weedy rice genotypes and atmospheric CO2 concentrations. We examined seven biotypes and two levels of atmospheric [CO2]: ambient {a[CO2]} and enhanced {e[CO2]} concentrations of 400 and 700 μmol mol−1 respectively. Our results indicate that e[CO2] increases weedy rice seed shattering. The gene expression analysis demonstrates that in most genotypes the e[CO2] increased the expression of all shattering‐related genes (OsCPL1, qSH1, Sh4, SHAT1, OsXTH8, OSH15 and SH5). Atmospheric [CO2] greatly affects seed shattering in weedy rice and has a minor effect on cultivated rice, by modulation of seed shattering‐related gene expression. Weedy rice genotypes had the highest upregulation of these genes.
Weed seedbank, above‐ground weed community and crop yields under conventional and conservation agriculture practices in maize–wheat–mungbean rotation
Authors: Ghosh Sonaka , Das T. K. , Nath C. P. , Bhatia Arti , Biswas D. R. , Bandyopadhyay K. K. , Yeasin Md , Raj Rishi
Published: July 2023

Weeds are the major biological barriers to achieving higher yields in agro‐ecosystem. We aimed to determine weed community (seedbank and aboveground) and crop yield responses to conventional tillage (CT) and different types of conservation agriculture (CA) practices with variable nitrogen (N) doses in a maize (Zea mays L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) rotation. After 8 years of implementation, CA practices including zero‐tilled (ZT) permanent narrow‐bed with crop residues and 100% required N (PNB + R + 100 N), and ZT permanent broad‐bed with residues and 100% required N (PBB + R + 100 N) had a lower weed seed density by 45% at 0–7.5 cm and 53% at 7.5–15 cm soil layers than CT. CT promoted dominance of Cyperus rotundus L., Cyperus esculentus L. and Dinebra retroflexa (Vahl) Panz. while, specific CA practices (PNB + R + 100 N and PBB + R + 100 N) promoted dominance of Digera arvensis Forsk. and Melilotus indicus (L.). Compared to PNB + R + 100 N and PBB + R + 100 N, CT seedbanks had 41–46% higher ecological dominance, which is an indicator that delineates dominance of few specific weed species. The PBB + R + 100 N also had a lower total above‐ground weed density in maize–wheat–mungbean rotation by 34% (mean of years) than CT. The PBB + R + 100 N had 31.1% higher system productivity over CT. Thus, PBB + R + 100 N could reduce the weed seed density in the soil and above‐ground weeds and increase crop yields for sustainable crop production in maize–wheat–mungbean rotations.
Motivation for Online Education of Members of Gen Z Based on their Gender
Authors: Černíková Iveta , Šnýdrová Ivana
Published: July 2023

Generation Z includes the largest group of pupils and students affected by the crisis of educational interactions caused by the measures against the Covid-19 spread. In addition, researchers consider the cohort to be the most affected globally by events such as the economic, climate and security crisis, the reorganization of traditions or the digitization. Thanks to these factors, these individuals move to the virtual world, where they focus primarily on their own interests. However, these factors also support flexibility and responsibility. Thus, the conditions for online education should be ideal for this generation, thanks to which the motivation for education could be increased. The research is based on 336 questionnaire surveys conducted in 2020 and 2021, the participants of which were primary school pupils, secondary school students and university students from Prague and the Central Bohemian, South Bohemian and Ústí nad Labem Regions who belong to the Z generation according to their date of birth. The aim of the article is to evaluate the motivation and incentives for the education of Generation Z representatives with an emphasis on their gender using the following criteria: a crisis situation, parents, teachers, importance of education, further education and online education preferences. In the case of both groups, the year-on-year approach to these criteria has undergone significant changes towards the differences widening. Moreover, the high correlation of all the factors examined in relation to gender confirmed its important role in the motivation for education.
Torsors for finite group schemes of bounded height
Authors: Darda Ratko , Yasuda Takehiko
Published: July 2023

Let  be a nontrivial finite étale tame group scheme over a global field . We define height functions on the set of ‐torsors over , which generalize the usual heights such as the discriminant. As an analogue of the Malle conjecture for group schemes, we formulate a conjecture on the asymptotic behavior of the number of ‐torsors over  of bounded height. This is a special case of our more general “stacky Batyrev–Manin” conjecture [18]. The conjectured asymptotic is proven for the case when  is commutative. When  is a number field, the leading constant is expressed as a product of certain arithmetic invariants of  and the volume of a space attached to . Moreover, an equidistribution property of ‐torsors in the space is established.
Barriers and facilitators for adopting healthy lifestyles in breast cancer survivors: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Shi Ao , Fong King Hei Anthony , Rodomar Carrie , Demetriou Christiana A. , Kolokotroni Ourania , Philippou Elena , Salameh Pascale , Mosquera Maria Cecilia , Papageorgiou Elisavet , Critselis Elena , Marcou Yiola , Constantinou Constantina , Quattrocchi Annalisa
Published: July 2023

Objective:

This scoping review will identify barriers and facilitators for the adoption of 7 healthy lifestyle components by female breast cancer survivors. This will be achieved by mapping the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research recommendations and the Lifestyle Medicine pillars.

Introduction:

Adherence to healthy lifestyle components (including weight management, physical activity, healthy diet, restorative sleep, avoidance of risky substances, forming and maintaining healthy relationships, and stress management) may improve the quality of life of breast cancer survivors and reduce the risk of adverse patient outcomes. However, cancer survivors’ adherence to recommendations of multiple healthy lifestyle components is low, and decreases over time.

Inclusion criteria:

The review will consider peer-reviewed studies investigating barriers and facilitators for adopting any of the 7 healthy lifestyle components by female adult (18+) breast cancer survivors (ie, from the time of diagnosis), in community, hospital, and/or cancer care settings, without any geographical restrictions. All study designs, and articles published only in the English language, will be included.

Methods:

The review will follow the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Databases to be searched will include MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (Ovid), and the Cochrane Library databases. Articles published from 2007 to the present will be considered since this was the year in which the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research recommendations were published. Two independent reviewers will screen the retrieved articles and extract the data. Barriers and facilitators for each lifestyle component will be grouped according to the Theoretical Domain Framework. A narrative summary will explicate the charted data.

Review registration number:

This scoping review protocol was registered in Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/cn3va).
Optimization Method of Design Parameters of Hypoid Gears With Low Sliding Ratio
Authors: Zhang Yu , Wang Zhiyong , Yan Hongzhi
Published: July 2023

To reduce the wear, an optimization method of hypoid gears with the objective of minimizing the pinion sliding ratio is proposed. First, the sliding ratio model of the hypoid gear is established on the basis of the spatial gear meshing theory. Furthermore, the influence of design parameters on the sliding ratio and the relative sliding velocity is discussed, and the analysis results show that the parameters, especially the spiral angle and the pressure angle, have the most significant influence on the sliding ratio of the pinion. Additionally, the optimization model of hypoid gears is established, and the optimization objective is to minimize the sum of the absolute sliding ratios of 34 meshing points on the pinion tooth surfaces. Through comparison before and after optimization, it is found that the maximum drops of the sliding ratios for the pinion drive and coast side are 68.6% and 29.58%, respectively. Finally, the results of the running temperature tests demonstrate that the temperature of the optimized gear pair is significantly reduced and that the proposed method is effective.
Surface Effect in Nano-Scale Fretting Contact Problems
Authors: Xiao Sha , Peng Zhilong , Wu Hui , Yao Yin , Chen Shaohua
Published: July 2023

The fretting contact behavior of nanostructured materials is significantly influenced by the surface effect. A model of fretting contact between a nano-sized rigid cylindrical indenter and an elastic half-plane is established based on Gurtin–Murdoch (G–M) surface elasticity theory, with which the surface effects on the stress and displacement distributions and the size of stick region (no-slip region) in the contact zone are systematically studied. It is found that the surface effect induces an additional traction besides the external force applied by punch, which could help to smoothen the stress and displacement distributions. The normal surface-induced traction related to the residual surface stress is opposite to the externally applied compression, which results in a material stiffening in the contact zone so that the contact radius, normal displacement, and normal stress decrease compared with their classical counterparts. The tangential surface-induced traction is also opposite to the externally applied frictional stress, consequently leading to reductions of the shear stress and tangential displacement induced by friction in the contact zone. More interestingly, the surface effect leads to three possible states in the contact zone, including complete slip, partial slip, and complete stick, instead of the solely partial slip state in classical fretting contact models without surface effect. Among them, the complete stick due to the action of surface residual stress is more beneficial for inhibiting the wear of contact devices, which can be realized by reducing the indenter size. The present research does not only help one to better understand the physical mechanism in nano-scale fretting contact problems, but should also guide the anti-wear design in nano-electro-mechanical (NEMs) systems.
The General Gauss Principle of Least Constraint
Authors: Udwadia Firdaus E.
Published: July 2023

This paper develops a general form of Gauss’s Principle of Least Constraint, which deals with the manner in which Nature appears to orchestrate the motion of constrained mechanical systems. The theory of constrained motion has been at the heart of classical mechanics since the days of Lagrange, and it is used in various areas of science and engineering like analytical dynamics, quantum mechanics, statistical physics, and nonequilibrium thermodynamics. The new principle permits the constraints on any mechanical system to be inconsistent and shows that Nature handles these inconsistent constraints in the least squares sense. This broadening of Gauss’s original principle leads to two forms of the General Gauss Principle obtained in this paper. They explain why the motion that Nature generates is robust with respect to inaccuracies with which constraints are often specified in modeling naturally occurring and engineered systems since their specification in dynamical systems are often only approximate, and many physical systems may not exactly satisfy them at every instant of time. An important byproduct of the new principle is a refinement of the notion of what constitutes a virtual displacement, a foundational concept in all classical mechanics.
Case Commentary: Successful Use of Cefepime/Zidebactam (WCK 5222) as a Salvage Therapy for the Treatment of Disseminated Extensively Drug-Resistant New Delhi Metallo-β-Lactamase-Producing
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Infection in an Adult Patient with Acute T-Cell Leukemia
Authors: Egge Stephanie L. , Lewis James S. , Hakki Morgan
Published: July 2023

Multidrug-resistant/extensively drug-resistant (MDR/XDR)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
(PA) are critical antimicrobial resistance threats. Despite their increasing prevalence, treatment options for metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing PA are limited, especially for New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) producers. Pending further clinical studies, this case provides support for limited-scope use of cefepime-zidebactam for treating disseminated infections secondary to NDM-producing XDR PA.
Targeting the Spike Receptor Binding Domain Class V Cryptic Epitope by an Antibody with Pan-Sarbecovirus Activity
Authors: Jensen Jaime L. , Sankhala Rajeshwer S. , Dussupt Vincent , Bai Hongjun , Hajduczki Agnes , Lal Kerri G. , Chang William C. , Martinez Elizabeth J. , Peterson Caroline E. , Golub Emily S. , Rees Phyllis A. , Mendez-Rivera Letzibeth , Zemil Michelle , Kavusak Erin , Mayer Sandra V. , Wieczorek Lindsay , Kannan Shruthi , Doranz Benjamin J. , Davidson Edgar , Yang Eun Sung , Zhang Yi , Chen Man , Choe Misook , Wang Lingshu , Gromowski Gregory D. , Koup Richard A. , Michael Nelson L. , Polonis Victoria R. , Rolland Morgane , Modjarrad Kayvon , Krebs Shelly J. , Joyce M. Gordon
Published: July 2023

Characterization of MAbs against SARS-CoV-2, elicited through vaccination or natural infection, has provided vital immunotherapeutic options for curbing the COVID-19 pandemic and has supplied critical insights into SARS-CoV-2 escape, transmissibility, and mechanisms of viral inactivation. Neutralizing MAbs that target the RBD but do not block ACE2 binding are of particular interest because the epitopes are well conserved within sarbecoviruses and MAbs targeting this area demonstrate cross-reactivity.
Genome Sequence of a Heavy Metal-Detoxifying Actinomycete, Microbacterium proteolyticum ustc
Authors: Wu Qi-Zhong , Lin Wei-Qiang , Du Wen-Zheng , Wu Jian-Yu , Li Wen-Wei
Published: July 2023

A complete genome is presented for
Microbacterium proteolyticum
ustc, a member of the Gram-positive order
Micrococcales
of the phylum
Actinomycetota
that is resistant to high concentrations of heavy metals and participates in metal detoxification. The genome consists of one plasmid and one chromosome.
Mediating role of psychological distress in the associations between medical errors, adverse events, suicidal ideation and plan among operating room nurses in China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Wang Meiqi , Wei Zhen , Wang Yifan , Sun Long
Published: July 2023

Objectives

Medical errors (MEs) and adverse events (AEs) both had long-term impacts on healthcare professionals. Studies investigated the associations between MEs, AEs, psychological distress and suicidal behaviours among healthcare professionals. The aim of the current study was to explore the mediating role of psychological distress in the relationship between MEs/AEs and suicidal ideation/suicide plan among operating room nurses in China.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting

The survey was conducted between December 2021 and January 2022 in China.

Participants

A total of 787 operating room nurses completed the questionnaires in China.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcome measures were MEs and AEs. Secondary outcome measures were psychological distress and suicidal behaviours.

Results

The results showed that 22.1% of operating room nurses were involved in MEs, while 13.9% of operating room nurses were involved in AEs. The associations between suicidal ideation (OR=1.10, p<0.001), suicide plan (OR=1.07, p<0.01) and psychological distress were significant. The associations between suicidal ideation (OR=2.76, 95% CI=1.53 to 4.97, p<0.01), suicide plan (OR=2.80, 95% CI=1.20 to 6.56, p<0.05) and MEs were significant. The associations between suicidal ideation (OR=2.27, 95% CI=1.17 to 4.40, p<0.05), suicide plan (OR=2.92, 95% CI=1.19 to 7.18, p<0.05) and AEs were significant. The psychological distress mediated the relationship between MEs/AEs and suicidal ideation/suicide plan.

Conclusion

There were positive associations between MEs, AEs and psychological distress. Moreover, MEs and AEs were also positively associated with suicidal ideation and suicide plan. As expected, psychological distress played an important role in the relationship between MEs/AEs and suicidal ideation/suicide plan.
Effect of bariatric surgery on NAFLD/NASH: a single-centre observational prospective cohort study
Authors: Theel Willy B , Boxma-de Klerk Bianca M , Dirksmeier-Harinck Femme , van Rossum Elisabeth FC , Kanhai Danny A , Apers Jan A , van Dalen Bas M , De Knegt Robert J , Neecke Bojou , van der Zwan Ellen M , Grobbee Diederick E , Hankemeier Thomas , Wiebolt Janneke , Castro Cabezas Manuel
Published: July 2023

Introduction

The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) ranges from 25% in the general population to 90% in patients with obesity scheduled for bariatric surgery. NAFLD can progress towards non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) associated with complications such as cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and cardiovascular disease. To date, losing weight and lifestyle modifications are the best known treatments for NASH. Bariatric surgery significantly improves NAFLD/NASH in the short term. However, the extent of this improvement is not yet clear and long-term data on the natural course of NAFLD/NASH after bariatric surgery are lacking. The factors involved in NAFLD/NASH regression after bariatric surgery have not been elucidated.

Methods and analysis

This is an observational prospective cohort study including patients scheduled for bariatric surgery. Extensive metabolic and cardiovascular analyses will be carried out including measurements of carotid intima media thickness and pulse wave velocity. Genomic, proteomic, lipidomic and metabolomic studies will be done. Microbioma analyses before and 1 year after surgery will be done. Transient elastography measurements will be performed before and at 1, 3 and 5 years after surgery. For those with an elevated preoperative transient elastography measurement by Fibroscan, a laparoscopic liver biopsy will be performed during surgery. Primary outcome measures are the change of steatosis and liver fibrosis 5 years after surgery. Secondary outcome measure is the comparison of the transient elastography measurements with the NAFLD Activity Score from the biopsies.

Ethics and dissemination

The protocol has been approved by the Medical Research Ethics Committees United, Nieuwegein, on 1 March 2022 (registration code R21.103/NL79423.100.21). The study results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and data will be presented at scientific meetings.

Trial registration number

NCT05499949.
Prognostic factors of mortality in patients with cancer infected with COVID-19: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Han Mi Ah , Hwang Eu Chang , Jung Jae Hung
Published: July 2023

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many cases of infection and deaths worldwide. Patients with cancer are a high-risk group for COVID-19-related death. However, a systematic summary of the prognostic factors related to mortality in these patients is limited. We systematically summarise the evidence on the prognostic factors of mortality in patients with pre-existing cancer, infected with COVID-19.

Methods and analysis

We will address the prognostic factors for mortality, including cohort studies of adult patients with cancer infected with COVID-19. We will search MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Central Libraries for data from December 2019 to the present day. The prognostic factors for mortality include general, cancer-related and clinical characteristics. We will not limit the COVID-19 severity, cancer type and follow-up period of the included studies. Two reviewers will independently and in duplicate conduct reference screening, data abstraction and risk of bias assessment. We will perform a random-effect meta-analysis to calculate the pooled relative effect estimates for each prognostic factor of mortality. We will assess the risk of bias for each included study and rate the certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. This study will provide information about high-risk groups for mortality in patients with cancer infected with COVID-19.

Ethics and dissemination

This study will use only the published references and would not need to obtain ethical approval. We will disseminate our study findings through a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42023390905.
Translating theory into clinical practice: a qualitative study of clinician perspectives implementing whole person care
Authors: Leger Philip , Caldas Valerie , Festa Carolina , Hutchinson Tom , Jordan Steven
Published: July 2023

Whole Person Care (WPC) is an emerging framework that emphasises the clinician’s role in empowering patient healing. However, reliably translating a framework’s theory into practice is a recognised challenge for clinicians. Observational studies have revealed discrepancies between a clinician’s stated values in theory and how these may be implemented in practice. The aim of this qualitative study is to bridge the gap between the theory of WPC and its practical implementation by clinicians. We interviewed a diverse group of 34 clinicians attending the 2017 International Whole Person Care Congress to explore (1) their conceptions of WPC in theory as well as (2) how they monitor their practice in real time. Data were analysed using Grounded Theory Methodology. Preliminary results were presented in the form of a workshop at the 2019 International Whole Person Care Congress to validate our findings with relevant stakeholders. The results revealed a vision of WPC that highlighted themes of the clinician’s way of being, seeing the person beyond the disease, and the clinician–patient relationship. Our results demonstrate that clinicians use a range of strategies to monitor their practice in real time. Mindfulness and self-awareness were frequently cited as being crucial to this ability of self-regulating their practice. This study helps establish a unifying framework of WPC based on a diverse range of clinician-reported experiences. More importantly, it sheds light on the range of strategies employed by clinicians who monitor their practice in real time. These collected insights will be of interest to any clinician interested in translating their stated values into their clinical practice more reliably.
Inhibition of lactate transport by MCT-1 blockade improves chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy against B-cell malignancies
Authors: Lopez Ernesto , Karattil Rajesh , Nannini Francesco , Weng-Kit Cheung Gordon , Denzler Lilian , Galvez-Cancino Felipe , Quezada Sergio , Pule Martin A
Published: July 2023

Background

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have shown remarkable results against B-cell malignancies, but only a minority of patients have long-term remission. The metabolic requirements of both tumor cells and activated T cells result in production of lactate. The export of lactate is facilitated by expression of monocarboxylate transporter (MCTs). CAR T cells express high levels of MCT-1 and MCT-4 on activation, while certain tumors predominantly express MCT-1.

Methods

Here, we studied the combination of CD19-specific CAR T-cell therapy with pharmacological blockade of MCT-1 against B-cell lymphoma.

Results

MCT-1 inhibition with small molecules AZD3965 or AR-C155858 induced CAR T-cell metabolic rewiring but their effector function and phenotype remained unchanged, suggesting CAR T cells are insensitive to MCT-1 inhibition. Moreover, improved cytotoxicity in vitro and antitumoral control on mouse models was found with the combination of CAR T cells and MCT-1 blockade.

Conclusion

This work highlights the potential of selective targeting of lactate metabolism via MCT-1 in combination with CAR T cells therapies against B-cell malignancies.
Medical operations in the 21st century: application of TAK among wartime medical assets
Authors: Brust Adam , Cole J H , Forte J , Mansfield L , Hughey S , Riesberg J , Lin A
Published: July 2023

Advances in technology have improved the ability for real-time communication and enhanced awareness of medically related information on the battlefield. A government off-the-shelf platform, Team Awareness Kit (TAK), may enhance the ability for battlefield healthcare delivery, evacuation, telecommunication, and medical command and control. Integration of TAK into existing medical infrastructure provides a global view of resources, patient movement and direct communication, significantly reducing the ‘fog of war’ as it relates to battlefield injury and evacuation. Rapid integration and adoption are technically feasible with minimal resource investment. This technology can be rapidly scaled for the increasingly interconnected world of healthcare delivery.
Probabilistic generic transformation model between two rock mass properties: specific fracture energy and P-wave velocity
Authors: Shuku Takayuki , Phoon Kok-Kwang , Ishii Masako , Kumagai Takeru , Yokota Yasuhiro , Date Kensuke
Published: July 2023

This study proposed a probabilistic generic transformation model between two rock mass properties, specific fracture energy, Ev, and P-wave velocity, VP. To build the transformation model, 12 pairwise data sets of Ev and VP were collected from six different construction sites involving construction of mountain tunnels in Japan. This database is labeled as “RockMass/2/350”. A probabilistic transformation model was built based on a bivariate standard normal distribution with these 350 data points. The model is generic, because it is based on a variety of sites. The performance of the constructed transformation model was evaluated through a cross-validation. It was found that 98.2% of the validation data fell within the computed 95% confidence interval of the model estimation, and this result provides a preliminary validation of the probabilistic transformation model. Unlike existing deterministic transformation models for estimating VP from Ev, the proposed model can explicitly evaluate the transformation uncertainty with a quantitative metric such as a percentile. For practical application, a 3D model of the spatial distribution for Young’s modulus, E, was visualized based on the proposed transformation model. Since the proposed model is probabilistic, it can provide the spatial distribution for percentiles of E values. The constructed 3D model presented in this paper can be directly used as an input data for finite element or finite difference analysis, and probabilistic evaluation of excavation simulation is feasible based on the proposed probabilistic model. The quantitative information on such uncertainty can be useful in decision-making for tunnel constructions, such as selection of a cautious characteristic value.
AGATA: nuclear structure advancements with fusion-evaporation reactions
Authors: de Angelis G. , Benzoni G. , Cederwall B. , Korichi A. , Leoni S. , López-Martens A. , Nyberg J. , Paul E. S. , Valiente-Dobòn J. J.
Published: July 2023

Nuclear-structure studies using fusion reactions are reviewed in terms of prospects for advancement using the next generation of $$\gamma $$
γ
-ray tracking arrays such as AGATA. Properties discussed include those of light $$N=Z$$

N
=
Z

nuclei and rotational behaviour in heavy nuclei at high values of angular momentum and internal excitation energy.
A Novel Chaotic Image Encryption Algorithm Based on Propositional Logic Coding
Authors: Chang Haiping , Wang Erfu , Liu Jia
Published: July 2023

This paper proposes a new chaotic system 2D-HLM, which is a combination of Henon map and logistic map. SHA-256 algorithm based on the plaintext image produces the initial value, which enhances the correlation with the plaintext. Therefore, the algorithm avoids the disadvantages of being easily cracked by selected plaintext attacks. The chaotic sequence generated by 2D-HLM is adopted to scramble an image, and the bit plane is extracted and reorganized on the scrambled image. Based on the relationship between two mathematical propositions of the logistic map operations, a novel propositional logic coding algorithm is proposed. The simulation results show that the algorithm has large key space and high key sensitivity, and can resist common attacks such as differential attack.
Global Dynamics of a Predator–Prey Model with Simplified Holling Type IV Functional Response and Fear Effect
Authors: Xiao Jianglong , Xia Yonghui
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we study one type of predator–prey model with simplified Holling type IV functional response by incorporating the fear effect into prey species. The existence and stability of all equilibria of the system are studied. And bifurcation behaviors including saddle-node bifurcation, transcritical bifurcation and Hopf bifurcation of the system are completely explored. Numerical simulation is carried out to illustrate the theoretical analysis. It is shown that the fear effect does affect some dynamic behaviors of the system. Finally, we summarize the findings in a conclusion.
Chaotic Behaviors of a Delay Partial Difference Equation with a Delay Controller
Authors: Zhang Yongjun , Liang Wei , Zhang Xuanxuan
Published: July 2023

A delay partial difference equation with a delay controller is studied in this paper. We show that it can lead to both Devaney chaos and Li–Yorke chaos by applying the modified Marotto’s theorem, with three criteria established for generating chaos. Computer simulations of chaotic behaviors and spatiotemporal graphs are performed with three examples.
Deep Learning based Improved Generative Adversarial Network for Addressing Class Imbalance Classification Problem in Breast Cancer Dataset
Authors: Subasree S. , Sakthivel N. K. , Shobana M. , Tyagi Amit Kumar
Published: July 2023

The breast cancer diagnosis is one of the challenging tasks of medical field. Especially, the breast cancer diagnosis among younger women (under 40 years old) is more complicated, because their breast tissue is generally denser than the older women. The Breast Cancer Wisconsin image dataset contains two classes: (i) Benign (Minority class), (ii) Malignant (Majority class). The imbalanced class distribution leads to a deterioration in the classifier model performance owing to the biased classification towards the majority class. Therefore, in this article, an improved generative adversarial network (I-GAN) is proposed to overcome the class imbalance problem. Here, the proposed method is the consolidation of deep convolutional generative adversarial network (DCIGAN) and modified convolutional neural network, (MCNN), therefore it is known as DCIGAN-MCNN method. First, the DCIGAN is utilized for balancing the dataset by generating more samples in the training dataset. Then, this training dataset based the classification of Breast cancer is developed using the modified convolutional neural network. The proposed method is executed in MATLAB. The performance analysis are carried out in Breast Cancer Wisconsin (Prognostic) Data Set provides Maximum Geometry Mean (MGM) as 24.058%, 9.582%, Matthews’s correlation coefficient (MCC) as 78.623%, 30.357% higher than the existing methods, like CI-BC-RK-SVM, CI-BC-GA, CI-BC-DC-CNN, CI-BC-RF and CI-BC-BMIC-Net respectively. Finally, the simulation results prove that the proposed method can be able to find the optimal solutions efficiently and accurately.
Can a Single Neuron Learn Predictive Uncertainty?
Authors: Solano-Carrillo Edgardo
Published: July 2023

Uncertainty estimation methods using deep learning approaches strive against separating how uncertain the state of the world manifests to us via measurement (objective end) from the way this gets scrambled with the model specification and training procedure used to predict such state (subjective means) — e.g., number of neurons, depth, connections, priors (if the model is bayesian), weight initialization, etc. This poses the question of the extent to which one can eliminate the degrees of freedom associated with these specifications and still being able to capture the objective end. Here, a novel non-parametric quantile estimation method for continuous random variables is introduced, based on the simplest neural network architecture with one degree of freedom: a single neuron. Its advantage is first shown in synthetic experiments comparing with the quantile estimation achieved from ranking the order statistics (specifically for small sample size) and with quantile regression. In real-world applications, the method can be used to quantify predictive uncertainty under the split conformal prediction setting, whereby prediction intervals are estimated from the residuals of a pre-trained model on a held-out validation set and then used to quantify the uncertainty in future predictions — the single neuron used here as a structureless “thermometer” that measures how uncertain the pre-trained model is. Benchmarking regression and classification experiments demonstrate that the method is competitive in quality and coverage with state-of-the-art solutions, with the added benefit of being more computationally efficient.