bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case report: A primary calcified cardiac mass in right atrium partially obstructs the tricuspid valve in a patient on hemodialysis
Authors: Liu Hongduan , Tu Xiaokang , Zhang Hao , Fan Chengming , Tan Haoyu , Song Long , Wu Qin , Liu Liming
Published: August 2022

Primary cardiac calcification is a rare benign mass in patients with end-stage renal disease. A few cases have been reported in the literatures. In this case study, during a routine checkup for hemodialysis, a transthoracic echocardiography on a 19-year-old male showed a cardiac mass in the right atrium that was partially obstructing the tricuspid valve. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed a well-circumscribed, homogeneous “shadow” in the right atrium; it measured 29 × 27 mm, had equal T1- and T2-weighted signal intensities, and was adjacent to the tricuspid valve. According to 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography, there was a dense circular shadow in the right atrium abutting the tricuspid valve, but there was no increase in glucose metabolism. Median sternotomy was performed for the surgical resection of the mass, and a cardiopulmonary bypass was completed. The mass was completely removed. The patient recovered well and was discharged 10 days after the surgery. Histological examination showed that the mass contained multiple calcified nodules. No mass recurrence was found by echocardiography during the 12th-month follow-up.
Automatic rating of therapist facilitative interpersonal skills in text: A natural language processing application
Authors: Zech James M. , Steele Robert , Foley Victoria K. , Hull Thomas D.
Published: August 2022

Background

While message-based therapy has been shown to be effective in treating a range of mood disorders, it is critical to ensure that providers are meeting a consistently high standard of care over this medium. One recently developed measure of messaging quality–The Facilitative Interpersonal Skills Task for Text (FIS-T)–provides estimates of therapists’ demonstrated ability to convey psychotherapy's common factors (e.g., hopefulness, warmth, persuasiveness) over text. However, the FIS-T's scoring procedure relies on trained human coders to manually code responses, thereby rendering the FIS-T an unscalable quality control tool for large messaging therapy platforms.

Objective

In the present study, researchers developed two algorithms to automatically score therapist performance on the FIS-T task.

Methods

The FIS-T was administered to 978 messaging therapists, whose responses were then manually scored by a trained team of raters. Two machine learning algorithms were then trained on task-taker messages and coder scores: a support vector regressor (SVR) and a transformer-based neural network (DistilBERT).

Results

The DistilBERT model had superior performance on the prediction task while providing a distribution of ratings that was more closely aligned with those of human raters, versus SVR. Specifically, the DistilBERT model was able to explain 58.8% of the variance (R2 = 0.588) in human-derived ratings and realized a prediction mean absolute error of 0.134 on a 1–5 scale.

Conclusions

Algorithms can be effectively used to ensure that digital providers meet a consistently high standard of interactions in the course of messaging therapy. Natural language processing can be applied to develop new quality assurance systems in message-based digital psychotherapy.
Dynamic strain anomalies detection at Stromboli before 2019 vulcanian explosions using machine learning
Authors: Romano Pierdomenico , Di Lieto Bellina , Scarpetta Silvia , Apicella Ilenia , Linde Alan T. , Scarpa Roberto
Published: August 2022

Identifying and characterizing the dynamics of explosive activity is impelling to build tools for hazard assessment at open-conduit volcanoes: machine learning techniques are now a feasible choice. During the summer of 2019, Stromboli experienced two paroxysmal eruptions that occurred in two different volcanic phases, which gave us the possibility to conceive and test an early-warning algorithm on a real use case: the paroxysm on July, 3 was clearly preceded by smaller and less perceptible changes in the volcano dynamics, while the second paroxysm, on August 28 concluded the eruptive phase. Among the changes observed in the weeks preceding the July paroxysm one of the most significant is represented by the shape variation of the ordinary minor explosions, filtered in the very long period (VLP 2–50 s) band, recorded by the Sacks-Evertson strainmeter installed near the village of Stromboli. Starting from these observations, the usage of two independent methods (an unsupervised machine learning strategy and a cross-correlation algorithm) to classify strain transients falling in the ultra long period (ULP 50–200 s) frequency band, allowed us to validate the robustness of the approach. This classification leads us to establish a link between VLP and ULP shape variation forms and volcanic activity, especially related to the unforeseen 3 July 2019 paroxysm. Previous warning times used to precede paroxysms at Stromboli are of a few minutes only. For paroxysmal events occurring outside any long-lasting eruption, the initial success of our approach, although applied only to the few available examples, could permit us to anticipate this time to several days by detecting medium-term strain anomalies: this could be crucial for risk mitigation by prohibiting access to the summit. Our innovative analysis of dynamic strain may be used to provide an early-warning system also on other open conduit active volcanoes.
Mechanical effect of clay under the acid-base action: A case study on montmorillonite and illite
Authors: Liu Jian , Guan Yurong , Shao Zhenbao , Wang Huihao
Published: August 2022

To study the mechanical effect of clay under acidic and basic conditions, typical clay minerals, montmorillonite and illite, were taken as the main research objects in this study. The variation law and mechanism of the cohesive force and internal friction angle were studied by immersing the remoulded soil in HNO3 solution with pH = 3 and NaOH (alkaline waste liquid) with pH = 13.5, respectively. It was found that, under acidic conditions, a corrosion reaction between clay minerals and nitric acid occurred. Except for the medium-term, the cohesion generally shows a decreasing trend, and the internal friction angle has little change. Under alkaline conditions, the cohesion of montmorillonite-quartz sand remoulded soil decreased briefly in the early immersion stage of and increased in the middle and late stages. The internal friction angle increases steadily with the extension of immersion time. The cohesion of illite-quartz sand remoulded soil also decreased first and then increased, while the internal friction angle changed little. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that montmorillonite and illite will corrode under acidic conditions, and no new material will be generated, resulting in a decrease in soil cohesion. Under alkaline conditions, montmorillonite was seriously depleted, resulting in the formation of zeolite minerals (zeolite X, garronite) and new cement hydrated calcium silicate CSH (xonotlite). Strong alkali reacts with illite to generate sodium metaaluminate (NaAlO2) and liquid cement Na2SiO3 (sodium silicate). The formation of new cements is the main reason for the increase in cohesion under acid-base conditions, and chemical corrosion and ion exchange cause a decrease in cohesion.
Research on Power System Joint Optimal Generation Scheduling Based on Improved Balance Optimizer
Authors: Xu Jianming , Liu Anfeng , Qin Yang , Xu Guangrong , Tang Yibo
Published: August 2022

This article presents a power system joint optimization generation regulation method based on the improved balance optimizer, which takes the five factors of power system network loss, voltage offset, generation cost, fuel cost, and comprehensive pollution emission as the objective function and takes the internal power balance of the system, each generator set, generation capacity, generation flow, and up and down climbing as the constraints. Fully considering the current energy-saving development objectives and the impact of economic dispatching, taking stable and safe operation as the core, the power generation dispatching model is established by improving the balance optimizer. The model realizes the maximum power generation with the lowest energy consumption parameters and transitions from the original power generation energy consumption of the power system to the best energy-saving power generation energy consumption so that the power value of the system reaches the target balance and completes efficient dispatching. Simulation experiments show that the proposed method can ensure the most reasonable power load in both summer and winter. The average load in summer and winter is reduced from 254.78/mw to 205.36/mw, down about 19.39%, which can ensure the power generation stability of the power system. The average power generation cost after dispatching is 129,920 $/h, which is significantly improved by comparing with 131,225 $/h before dispatching and can realize certain environmental benefits.
Long-Term Successive Biochar Amendments Alter the Composition and α-Diversity of Bacterial Community of Paddy Soil in Rice-Wheat Rotation
Authors: Xu Yunxiang , He Lili , Chen Jinyuan , Lyu Haohao , Wang Yuying , Yang Lie , Yang Shengmao , Liu Yuxue
Published: August 2022

The specific effect of long-term successive biochar application on soil fertility, α-diversity, and composition of bacterial community and their correlations remain unclear. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of straw biochar application on soil physical and chemical properties and the diversity and composition of the bacterial communities in 12 consecutive crop seasons. Four treatments: BC1 (2.25 Mgha−1 biochar), BC5 (11.25 Mgha−1 biochar), RS (2.25 Mgha−1 rice straw), and blank control (CK, without biochar or rice straw) were set up. The results indicated that biochar and rice straw reduced the richness indexes of the soil bacterial community (Chao1 and ACE by 10.3%–27.4% and 12.2%–26.4%, respectively). High-throughput sequencing results showed that the relative abundance of Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria increased as the amount of biochar increased, while those of norank_c__Acidobacteria and norank_f__Anaerolineaceae Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria and Nitrospirae decreased. Long-term successive biochar application significantly increased soil pH, available potassium, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and cation exchange capacity by 5.7%–25.9%, 40.0%–680.0%, 48.0%–217.1%, 51.0%–109.5%, and 5.4%–24.0%, respectively. Soil dissolved organic carbon was slightly decreased by 1.4%–4.0%. Soil pH and C/N were the two major environmental factors affecting the composition of the soil bacterial community according to redundancy analysis. Furthermore, the phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states showed that biochar significantly increased the relative abundance of information on the functions of the metabolism of other amino acids, metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides, and biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites (p < 0.05). Therefore, long-term successive biochar amendment in rice-wheat rotation systems improved soil fertility, altered the structure of the soil bacterial community, and increased the functions of soil bacteria, but decreased the α-diversity of the bacterial community. This study will provide technical and theoretical support for rice-straw carbonization and long-term soil remediation from the perspective of microorganisms.
How dual value chain embedding affects energy efficiency in China
Authors: Chen Guo , Cheng Shixiong , Gao Qizheng , Li Baoxi
Published: August 2022

Since the financial crisis, especially after the outbreak of COVID-19, the global trade division of labor has been changing rapidly. The global value chain (GVC) keeps shrinking while the domestic value chain (DVC) continues to develop. Therefore, it is important to re-examine the impact of different modes of value chain division of labor on China’s energy efficiency. In this study, we first constructed an input-output model of provinces embedded in the world to measure the dual embedding of domestic and global value chains. Then we used a three-dimensional fixed-effect model to study the impact and mechanism of dual value chain embedding on energy efficiency. We found that domestic value chain embedding inhibits energy efficiency improvement and global value chain embedding promotes energy efficiency improvement. A series of robustness and endogeneity tests support these findings. The heterogeneity tests revealed that the effects of dual value chain embedding on energy efficiency are more pronounced in low-polluting industries, high-tech industries, years before 2008, and coastal regions. The mechanism test revealed that DVC embedding inhibits energy efficiency by exacerbating the low-end lock-in effect, reducing environmental regulation and scale efficiency, and it increases energy efficiency by increasing technological progress efficiency. GVC embedding improves energy efficiency by weakening the low-end lock-in effect and increasing technical efficiency and scale efficiency, and it inhibits energy efficiency improvement by reducing environmental regulation and technological progress efficiency.
Does green finance promote enterprises’ green technology innovation in China?
Authors: Jiang Shuangshuang , Liu Xiaojiao , Liu Zhonglu , Shi Hao , Xu Hongdi
Published: August 2022

In the carbon neutrality strategy, understanding the effects of green finance on green technology innovation is conductive to promoting the green transformation of the economy. Based on the micro-level and provincial panel data of Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed companies from 2012 to 2019, this study explored the impact of green financial development on the enterprises’ green technology innovation. Both mediating effect and moderating effect models were employed to determine the impact of green finance on green technological innovation. It was found that green finance significantly improved the enterprises’ green technology innovation, despite sufficient incentives for “quantity” and relatively insufficient motivation for “quality”. The mechanistic tests demonstrated that the green finance could encourage enterprises to improve green technology innovation by alleviating corporate financing constraints. The green innovation effect of green finance was gradually increased when the regional intellectual property protection was improved. The heterogeneity test indicated that the incentive effect of green financial development on green technology innovation was more evident in state-owned enterprises, enterprises with good internal control quality, and enterprises in the growth period. If only enterprises in the recession stage received green financial support, a “green innovation bubble” might occur. The research conclusions enrich the theories on the driving factors of enterprise green innovation and provide empirical evidence for enhancing the competitiveness of enterprise green innovation and achieving carbon neutrality.
Reduced evolutionary potential of a frugivorous bird species in fragmented forests
Authors: Assis Ana Paula A. , Galetti Mauro , Maia Kate P. , Guimarães Paulo R.
Published: August 2022

Morphological attributes are important in determining the success of ecological interactions, such as the interactions between fleshy fruited plants and their seed dispersers. Morphological traits can present high levels of intraspecific variation both within and across populations. Such variation will not only mediate which interactions can be established locally but also the potential for populations to respond to perturbations and selective pressure. Here, we investigated patterns of morphological variation (body weight and beaks’ traits) among different populations of blue manakin (Chiroxiphia caudata), in the highly fragmented Atlantic Forest, Brazil, both in terms of mean trait values – that might mediate interactions locally – and in their habitat-level variation which influences their evolutionary potential. Using metrics of evolutionary potential derived from quantitative genetics theory, we hypothesized that ecological stress would lead to a decline in the overall evolutionary potential in manakin populations. We found that populations differ slightly in their mean morphological attributes, with the exception of a population that occurs in temperate Araucaria forests. Nevertheless, we found a striking difference in the evolutionary potential of populations from different vegetation types. Specifically, populations that occur in ecological stress areas, Araucaria forests, and forest fragments immersed in savanna presented a smaller overall and conditional evolvability, suggesting their lower ability to respond in the direction of selection. This pattern might have important implications for the role of this species as seed disperser, as populations under stress may lack morphological variation (and covariation) that can be important to allow a given population to disperse seeds of multiple types of fruits. Moreover, a smaller evolvability might impact the potential of these populations to persist and perform their ecosystem services in face of environmental changes.
Paleogene emergence and evolutionary history of the Amazonian fossorial fish genus Tarumania (Teleostei: Tarumaniidae)
Authors: Melo Bruno F. , de Pinna Mário C. C. , Rapp Py-Daniel Lúcia H. , Zuanon Jansen , Conde-Saldaña Cristhian C. , Roxo Fabio F. , Oliveira Claudio
Published: August 2022

Tarumania walkeraeis a rare fossorial freshwater fish species from the lower Rio Negro, Central Amazonia, composing the monotypic and recently described family Tarumaniidae. The family has been proposed as the sister group of Erythrinidae by both morphological and molecular studies despite distinct arrangements of the superfamily Erythrinoidea within Characiformes. Recent phylogenomic studies and time-calibrated analyses of characoid fishes have not included specimens ofTarumaniain their analyses. We obtained genomic data forT. walkeraeand constructed a phylogeny based on 1795 nuclear loci with 488,434 characters of ultraconserved elements (UCEs) for 108 terminals including specimens of all 22 characiform families. The phylogeny confirms the placement of Tarumaniidae as sister to Erythrinidae but differs from the morphological hypothesis in the placement of the two latter families as sister to the clade with Hemiodontidae, Cynodontidae, Serrasalmidae, Parodontidae, Anostomidae, Prochilodontidae, Chilodontidae, and Curimatidae. The phylogeny calibrated with five characoid fossils indicates that Erythrinoidea diverged from their relatives during the Late Cretaceouscirca90 Ma (108–72 Ma), and thatTarumaniadiverged from the most recent common ancestor of Erythrinidae during the Paleogenecirca48 Ma (66–32 Ma). The occurrence of the erythrinoid-like †Tiupampichthysin the Late Cretaceous–Paleogene formations of the El Molino Basin of Bolivia supports our hypothesis for the emergence of the modern Erythrinidae and Tarumaniidae during the Paleogene.
Integrated analysis of necroptosis-related lncRNAs for prognosis and immunotherapy of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Mo Jiantao , Cui Zhiwei , Wang Qiqi , Zhang Weifan , Li Jie , Wu Shuai , Qian Weikun , Zhou Cancan , Ma Qingyong , Wang Zheng , Wu Zheng
Published: August 2022

Accumulating studies have revealed that necroptosis plays a vital role in the occurrence and development of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD). We aimed to construct a prognostic model for PAAD on the basis of necroptosis-related lncRNAs (NRLs). A coexpression network between necroptosis-related mRNAs and NRLs based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was constructed. Then, differentially expressed necroptosis-related lncRNAs (DENRLs) were screened from TCGA and Genotype-Tissue Expression project (GTEx) datasets. Univariate Cox regression (uni-Cox) analysis was performed on these DENRLs to identify lncRNAs significantly correlated with prognosis. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was performed for preventing overfitting on these lncRNAs. Multivariate Cox analysis (multi-Cox) was performed to establish a risk model based on lncRNAs that served as an independent prognostic factor. Next, the Kaplan–Meier analysis, time-dependent receiver operating characteristics (ROC), uni-Cox, multi-Cox regression, nomogram, and calibration curves were constructed to support the accuracy of the model. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and single-sample GSEA (ssGSEA) were also performed on risk groups, and it was found that the low-risk group was closely correlated with immune infiltration and immunotherapy. To further evaluate the immune differences between different clusters, we divided the patients into two clusters. Cluster 2 was more significantly infiltrated with immune cells and had higher immune scores. These results shed new light on the pathogenesis of PAAD based on NRLs and develop a prognostic model for diagnosing and guiding personalized immunotherapy of PAAD patients.
Benefits of conventional anterior codend meshes turned 90° in an Australian trawl fishery are limited to an improved quality of Neoplatycephalus conatus
Authors: Broadhurst Matt K. , Knuckey Ian A. , Millar Russell B.
Published: August 2022

Turning conventional diamond-shaped meshes 90° (‘T90’) in trawl extensions or codends is a simple modification for consistently increasing lateral openings and has improved size selection in several European fisheries. Here we investigate the effects of an industry-instigated cylinder of T90 meshes in the anterior codend of a trawl fished in the Great Australian Bight. Compared to the traditional codend (~5.4 m long) comprising a 93.5-mm stretched mesh opening (SMO) and double 4.1-mm-diameter twine throughout, the new T90 configuration comprising ~3 m of the same mesh turned 90° in the anterior section did not significantly affect catches of any discarded or retained species, or sizes of the primary target, deepwater flathead, Neoplatycephalus conatus. The only significant impact of T90 was a slightly improved quality of deepwater flathead (determined by the ‘quality index method’), attributed to some release of abrasive debris from the codend. The absence of any effects of the T90 mesh on selection might reflect the small mesh size relative to most key species and the thick twine which probably negated some of the anticipated increases in lateral mesh openings. The results reiterate the need to match the mesh perimeter to the sizes of the key target prior to efforts at maximising lateral openings (via various established technical options), but nevertheless imply the benefits of T90 mesh may extend beyond selection.
Distribution and microbial degradation of dissolved organic carbon in the northern South China Sea
Authors: Ding Ling , Shan Sen , Luo Chunle , Wang Xuchen
Published: August 2022

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is the largest reduced carbon pool in the ocean, and it plays significant roles not only in the ocean carbon cycle but also in the control of many biogeochemical processes in the ocean. We present the concentrations and distribution of DOC in the northern South China Sea (SCS) and western North Pacific (NP) in the spring and summer seasons of 2015-2016 and 2019. Laboratory incubation bioassay experiments were also conducted to determine the microbiological respiration of DOC. In the SCS, the concentrations of DOC varied within a range of 38-95 μM, and the large spatial variations in DOC in the upper 100 m depth were influenced by a combination of factors, including primary production, terrestrial inputs from the Pearl River and the intrusion of the Kuroshio Current. The mesopelagic DOC distribution in the northern SCS basin was largely influenced by the physical mixing of upwelled deep water; however, biological processes were estimated to account for 6-20% of the modulation in DOC concentrations. Compared with the deep DOC levels in open ocean areas, a slightly excessive DOC concentration (~ 3-4 μM) was observed in the deep water of the SCS basin. Approximately 10-20% of the DOC was consumed by mesopelagic and/or deep water bacteria in the incubation bioassay experiments, and labile DOC was preferentially respired, resulting in decreased δ13C and Δ14C values of DOC.
Multiple low salinity stress modes provided novel insight into the metabolic response of Scylla paramamosain adapting to inland saline-alkaline water
Authors: Niu Mingming , Gao Gao , Qin Kangxiang , Chen Yuhao , Wang Huan , Li Xing , Liang Guoling , Wang Chunlin , Mu Changkao , Su Qiong
Published: August 2022

Scylla paramamosain is a high-quality cultivar for saline-alkaline water aquaculture as a euryhaline crustacean species. However, salinity impacts the respiratory metabolism, growth, and survival of marine crustaceans. The metabolic response of crabs adapting to multiple low salinity environments has not been thoroughly studied yet, especially in inland saline-alkaline water. In this study, we analyzed metabolites in the gill and hemolymph of crabs cultured in three different low salinity environments. The results showed that membrane composition (lipids and lipid molecules) and free amino acids played an essential role in the osmoregulation of crabs, and the energy consumption accompanied as well. Meanwhile, S. paramamosain relied on ion transport and energy metabolism under acute/short-term low salinity conditions for osmoregulation. In contrast, amino acids and energy metabolism occupied a leading position in long-term low salinity. Furthermore, taurine and hypotaurine play a vital role in crabs adapting to inland saline-alkaline water. This is the first study to identify the crucial metabolites and key pathways as biomarkers to differentiate the metabolic mechanisms of S. paramamosain under multiple low salinity stress modes based on GC-MS technology, which provided novel insight into the metabolic response of S. paramamosain adapting to inland low salinity saline-alkaline water, and provided theoretical guidance for the aquaculture of S. paramamosain in the inland saline-alkaline water.
The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) employment in the frailty assessment of patients suffering from Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): A systematic review
Authors: Granata Nicolò , Vigoré Martina , Steccanella Andrea , Ranucci Luca , Sarzi Braga Simona , Baiardi Paola , Pierobon Antonia
Published: August 2022

Background

The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a well-established tool that has been widely employed to assess patients' frailty status and to predict clinical outcomes in the acute phase of a disease, but more information is needed to define the implications that this tool have when dealing with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

Methods

An electronic literature search was performed on PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases to identify studies employing the CFS to assess frailty in patients with NCDs.

Findings

After database searching, article suitability evaluation, and studies' quality assessment, 43 studies were included in the systematic review. Researches were conducted mostly in Japan (37.5%), and half of the studies were focused on cardiovascular diseases (46.42%), followed by cancer (25.00%), and diabetes (10.71%). Simplicity (39.29%), efficacy (37.5%), and rapidity (16.07%) were the CFS characteristics mostly appreciated by the authors of the studies. The CFS-related results indicated that its scores were associated with patients' clinical outcomes (33.92%), with the presence of the disease (12.5%) and, with clinical decision making (10.71%). Furthermore, CFS resulted as a predictor of life expectancy in 23 studies (41.07%), clinical outcomes in 12 studies (21.43%), and hospital admissions/readmissions in 6 studies (10.71%).

Discussion

CFS was found to be a well-established and useful tool to assess frailty in NCDs, too. It resulted to be related to the most important disease-related clinical characteristics and, thus, it should be always considered as an important step in the multidisciplinary evaluation of frail and chronic patients.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.asp? PROSPERO 2021, ID: CRD42021224214.
Benefits of a 3-month cycle of weekly virtual museum tours in community dwelling older adults: Results of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Beauchet Olivier , Matskiv Jacqueline , Galery Kevin , Goossens Linda , Lafontaine Constance , Sawchuk Kim
Published: August 2022

Background

Museums can be instrumental in fostering social inclusion and may improve the overall health of the older population. Over the course of the 2019 coronavirus pandemic, many older adults suffered as a result of confinement measures, which may have accelerated the processes that lead to physical frailty and increased mental health risks. This study aims to examine whether a 3-month cycle of weekly virtual tours of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) may have improved feelings of social inclusion, wellbeing and quality of life, and reduced physical frailty in older adults living within the community of Montreal.

Methods and design

A total of 106 older adults, who were community-dwellers living in Montreal (Quebec, Canada), were recruited for a randomized controlled trial in two parallel groups (intervention with n = 53 vs control with n = 53) between January and April 2022. The intervention consisted of a 3-month cycle of weekly virtual museum tours of the MMFA. Social isolation, wellbeing, quality of life and frailty were evaluated using validated scales that were assessed on a web platform at baseline (M0) and after 3 months (M3) in the intervention group. The control group completed the same assessment according to the same schedule. The outcomes were the mean scores at M0 and M3, and changes in mean scores between M0 and M3.

Results

The intervention group showed significant improvements in their social isolation, wellbeing, quality of life and frailty scores when compared to the control group, the highest benefits being observed with frailty.

Conclusion

The results suggest that the 3-month cycle of weekly virtual MMFA tours may improve social inclusion, physical and mental health in community-dwelling older adults living in Montreal.

Trial registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05046288, identifier NCT05046288.
Testing of pandemic ventilators under early and agile development
Authors: Tachatos Nikolaos , Steffen Nicola , Zander Mark , Stankovic Nikola , Meboldt Mirko , Erb Thomas O. , Hammer Jürg , Schmid Daners Marianne
Published: August 2022

Aiming to address clinical requirements subsequent to SARS-CoV-2-related pulmonary disease, multiple research groups and industry groups carried out intensive studies to develop pandemic ventilators (PDVs). In vitro testing to critically evaluate the specific performance of the developed apparatuses is an essential requirement. This study presents a test protocol which promotes a test-oriented, iterative, and agile assessment and consecutive development of such PDVs. It allows for fast identification of specific characteristics of each PDV in the individual test features. The test protocol includes an evaluation of the accuracy of control systems and instruments at changing parameters, the oxygen dynamics, and the response to trigger signals. The test environment is a mechanical lung, which allows reproducing various lung mechanics and to simulate active breathing cycles. A total of three PDVs that are under development were iteratively tested, with a Hamilton T1 as a reference. Continuous testing of the PDVs under development enables quick identification of critical application aspects that deserve further improved. Based on the present test protocol, the ventilators demonstrate a promising performance justifying continued development.
A comprehensive prognostic and immunological analysis of ephrin family genes in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Huang Shenglan , Dong Cairong , Zhang Jian , Fu Shumin , Lv Yaqin , Wu Jianbing
Published: August 2022

Background: Ephrins, a series of Eph-associated receptor tyrosine kinase ligands, play an important role in the tumorigenesis and progression of various cancers. However, their contributions to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. Thus, we aimed to explore their prognostic value and immune implications in HCC.

Methods: Multiple public databases, such as TCGA, GTEx, and UCSC XENA, were used to analyze the expression of ephrin genes across cancers. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression were used to explore the prognostic role of ephrin genes in HCC. A logistic regression model was utilized to evaluate the association between ephrin gene expression and clinical characteristics. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was conducted to elucidate their potential biological mechanisms. Various immune algorithms were utilized to investigate the correlation between ephrin genes and tumor immunity. We also analyzed their association with drug sensitivity, and gene mutations. Finally, RT–qPCR was performed to validate the expression of ephrin family genes in HCC cells and clinical tissues.

Results: The expression of EFNA1, EFNA2, EFNA3, EFNA4, EFNB1, and EFNB2 was upregulated in most cancer types, while EFNA5 and EFNB3 was downregulated in most cancers. In HCC, the expression levels of EFNA1, EFNA3, EFNA4, EFNB1, and EFNB2 were significantly higher in tumor tissues than in normal tissues. High expression of EFNA3, EFNA4, and EFNB1 was associated with tumor progression and worse prognosis in HCC patients. The expression of EFNA3 and EFNA4 was negatively associated with the stromal/ESTIMATE scores, while EFNB1 was positively correlated with the immune/stromal/ESTIMATE scores. Moreover, these ephrin genes were closely relevant to the infiltration of immune cells, such as B cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, neutrophil cells, macrophage cells, and dendritic cells. EFNB1 expression was positively associated with most immune-related genes, while EFNA3/EFNA4 was positively related to TMB and MSI. In addition, EFNA3, EFNA4, and EFNB1 were related to drug sensitivity and affected the mutation frequency of some genes in HCC.

Conclusion: EFNA3, EFNA4, and EFNB1 are independent prognostic factors for HCC patients and are closely correlated with tumor immunity, which may provide a new direction for exploring novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers for immunotherapy.
Less is more: Enterobactin concentration dependency in copper tolerance and toxicity
Authors: Peralta Daiana Romina , Farizano Juan Vicente , Bulacio Gil Natalia , Corbalán Natalia Soledad , Pomares María Fernanda , Vincent Paula Andrea , Adler Conrado
Published: August 2022

The ability of siderophores to play roles beyond iron acquisition has been recently proven for many of them and evidence continues to grow. An earlier work showed that the siderophore enterobactin is able to increase copper toxicity by reducing Cu2+ to Cu+, a form of copper that is more toxic to cells. Copper toxicity is multifaceted. It involves the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mismetallation of enzymes and possibly other mechanisms. Given that we previously reported on the capacity of enterobactin to alleviate oxidative stress caused by various stressors other than copper, we considered the possibility that the siderophore could play a dual role regarding copper toxicity. In this work, we show a bimodal effect of enterobactin on copper toxicity (protective and harmful) which depends on the siderophore concentration. We found that the absence of enterobactin rendered Escherichia coli cells more sensitive to copper, due to the reduced ability of those cells to cope with the metal-generated ROS. Consistently, addition of low concentrations of the siderophore had a protective effect by reducing ROS levels. We observed that in order to achieve this protection, enterobactin had to enter cells and be hydrolyzed in the cytoplasm. Further supporting the role of enterobactin in oxidative stress protection, we found that both oxygen and copper, induced the expression of the siderophore and also found that copper strongly counteracted the well-known downregulation effect of iron on enterobactin synthesis. Interestingly, when enterobactin was present in high concentrations, cells became particularly sensitive to copper most likely due to the Cu2+ to Cu+ reduction, which increased the metal toxicity leading to cell death.
Assessing the suitability of long non-coding RNAs as therapeutic targets and biomarkers in SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Zhong Yichen , Ashley Caroline L. , Steain Megan , Ataide Sandro Fernandes
Published: August 2022

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA transcripts that are over 200 nucleotides and rarely encode proteins or peptides. They regulate gene expression and protein activities and are heavily involved in many cellular processes such as cytokine secretion in respond to viral infection. In severe COVID-19 cases, hyperactivation of the immune system may cause an abnormally sharp increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, known as cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which leads to severe tissue damage or even organ failure, raising COVID-19 mortality rate. In this review, we assessed the correlation between lncRNAs expression and cytokine release syndrome by comparing lncRNA profiles between COVID-19 patients and health controls, as well as between severe and non-severe cases. We also discussed the role of lncRNAs in CRS contributors and showed that the lncRNA profiles display consistency with patients’ clinic symptoms, thus suggesting the potential of lncRNAs as drug targets or biomarkers in COVID-19 treatment.
Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and neuroplasticity after stroke
Authors: Wang Yuan , Leak Rehana K. , Cao Guodong
Published: August 2022

Stroke remains a major cause of long-term disability and mortality worldwide. The immune system plays an important role in determining the condition of the brain following stroke. As the resident innate immune cells of the central nervous system, microglia are the primary responders in a defense network covering the entire brain parenchyma, and exert various functions depending on dynamic communications with neurons, astrocytes, and other neighboring cells under both physiological or pathological conditions. Microglia activation and polarization is crucial for brain damage and repair following ischemic stroke, and is considered a double-edged sword for neurological recovery. Microglia can exist in pro-inflammatory states and promote secondary brain damage, but they can also secrete anti-inflammatory cytokines and neurotrophic factors and facilitate recovery following stroke. In this review, we focus on the role and mechanisms of microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and neuroplasticity after ischemia and relevant potential microglia-based interventions for stroke therapy.
Patterns of synchronization in 2D networks of inhibitory neurons
Authors: Miller Jennifer , Ryu Hwayeon , Wang Xueying , Booth Victoria , Campbell Sue Ann
Published: August 2022

Neural firing in many inhibitory networks displays synchronous assembly or clustered firing, in which subsets of neurons fire synchronously, and these subsets may vary with different inputs to, or states of, the network. Most prior analytical and computational modeling of such networks has focused on 1D networks or 2D networks with symmetry (often circular symmetry). Here, we consider a 2D discrete network model on a general torus, where neurons are coupled to two or more nearest neighbors in three directions (horizontal, vertical, and diagonal), and allow different coupling strengths in all directions. Using phase model analysis, we establish conditions for the stability of different patterns of clustered firing behavior in the network. We then apply our results to study how variation of network connectivity and the presence of heterogeneous coupling strengths influence which patterns are stable. We confirm and supplement our results with numerical simulations of biophysical inhibitory neural network models. Our work shows that 2D networks may exhibit clustered firing behavior that cannot be predicted as a simple generalization of a 1D network, and that heterogeneity of coupling can be an important factor in determining which patterns are stable.
Hematologic manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 in children: Case-series report and a review
Authors: Onimoe Grace , Alvarado Juan , Boakye Anita
Published: August 2022

On 11 March 2020, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). As the COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged worldwide, children have not been unaffected. Information gleaned from adult experience with the disease has aided in disease detection and treatment strategies in children. Numerous cases have been described in adult literature about hematologic manifestations of COVID-19. This case series aims to report several hematologic presentations in patients with COVID-19 and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C, an immune-mediated reaction leading to severe COVID-19 illness) with and without a primary hematologic disorder.
A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, single dose analgesic study of preoperative intravenous ibuprofen for tonsillectomy in children
Authors: Cui Xiaohuan , Zhang Jianmin , Gao Zhengzheng , Sun Lan , Zhang Fuzhou
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Tonsillectomy is a recognized treatment for children with tonsil hypertrophy and results in significant postoperative oropharyngeal pain. Fentanyl and other morphine-like analgesics are widely used as perioperative analgesia but are associated with side effects such as vomiting, nausea, and respiratory depression. As the least toxic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen may be effective and safe for pain control after tonsillectomy. We aimed to explore whether the addition of intravenous (IV) ibuprofen administered at induction can reduce the need for early postoperativeanalgesics.

Study design and methods

This randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial enrolled 95 pediatric patients who underwent tonsillectomy. Participants aged 6 months to 12 years were randomly assigned to either the experimental and control groups (1:1). The children were premedicated 15 min before surgery with IV ibuprofen 10 mg kg−1 or placebo (normal saline). Pain was scored at 15, 30, and 120 min after extubation, and IV fentanyl (0.5 mcg kg−1) was administered when the Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) Scale was ≥7 and deemed appropriate by the nursing staff in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). The visual analog scale was used as a supplementary evaluation for older children (≥7 years old) who were awake and could self-report pain. The primary outcome variable was the number of patients who received postoperative analgesia.

Results

The requirement for rescue fentanyl was reduced by 18% with the addition of IV ibuprofen (P = 0.043). There were no signficant differences in the amount of fentanyl administered postoperatively (P = 0.127). Compared with the placebo group, the number of children who needed more than one dose of rescue fentanyl decreased in the experimental group, but the differences were not significant (P = 0.056). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of operative blood loss (P = 0.978), vomiting, or postoperative bleeding (P = 0.474).

Conclusion

It is safe to administer IV ibuprofen 15 min before tonsillectomy, and it can significantly reduce the need for rescue fentanyl. IV ibuprofen should be considered as an important part of the multimodal approach for postoperative analgesia in children.

Clinical trial registration

Chictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR2100044508.
Steviol glycosides as an alternative osmotic agent for peritoneal dialysis fluid
Authors: Kopytina Valeria , Pascual-Antón Lucía , Toggweiler Nora , Arriero-País Eva-María , Strahl Lisa , Albar-Vizcaíno Patricia , Sucunza David , Vaquero Juan J. , Steppan Sonja , Piecha Dorothea , López-Cabrera Manuel , González-Mateo Guadalupe-Tirma
Published: August 2022

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a renal replacement technique that requires repeated exposure of the peritoneum to hyperosmolar PD fluids (PDFs). Unfortunately, it promotes alterations of the peritoneal membrane (PM) that affects its functionality, including mesothelial-mesenchymal transition (MMT) of mesothelial cells (MCs), inflammation, angiogenesis, and fibrosis. Glucose is the most used osmotic agent, but it is known to be at least partially responsible, together with its degradation products (GDP), for those changes. Therefore, there is a need for more biocompatible osmotic agents to better maintain the PM. Herein we evaluated the biocompatibility of Steviol glycosides (SG)-based fluids.

Methods: The ultrafiltration and transport capacities of SG-containing and glucose-based fluids were analyzed using artificial membranes and an in vivo mouse model, respectively. To investigate the biocompatibility of the fluids, Met-5A and human omental peritoneal MCs (HOMCs) were exposed in vitro to different types of glucose-based PDFs (conventional 4.25% glucose solution with high-GDP level and biocompatible 2.3% glucose solution with low-GDP level), SG-based fluids or treated with TGF-β1. Mice submitted to surgery of intraperitoneal catheter insertion were treated for 40 days with SG- or glucose-based fluids. Peritoneal tissues were collected to determine thickness, MMT, angiogenesis, as well as peritoneal washings to analyze inflammation.

Results: Dialysis membrane experiments demonstrated that SG-based fluids at 1.5%, 1%, and 0.75% had a similar trend in weight gain, based on curve slope, as glucose-based fluids. Analyzing transport capacity in vivo, 1% and 0.75% SG-based fluid-exposed nephrectomized mice extracted a similar amount of urea as the glucose 2.3% group. In vitro, PDF with high-glucose (4.25%) and high-GDP content induced mesenchymal markers and angiogenic factors (Snail1, Fibronectin, VEGF-A, FGF-2) and downregulates the epithelial marker E-Cadherin. In contrast, exposition to low-glucose-based fluids with low-GDP content or SG-based fluids showed higher viability and had less MMT. In vivo, SG-based fluids preserved MC monolayer, induced less PM thickness, angiogenesis, leukocyte infiltration, inflammatory cytokines release, and MMT compared with glucose-based fluids.

Conclusion: SG showed better biocompatibility as an osmotic agent than glucose in vitro and in vivo, therefore, it could alternatively substitute glucose in PDF.