bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“The Art of Self-Deception”
Authors: Meeker Natania
Published: March 2023

This chapter explores the way in which libertine materialisms of the seventeenth and eighteenth century engage with a Roman philosophical legacy. The intellectual attitudes connoted by “libertinism” on the one hand and “materialism” on the other remain at odds with one another as the Enlightenment wears on. In a rearticulation of Lucretian themes, however, the two positions find a point of convergence. With the return to Lucretius, libertine materialism recovers a certain consistency and new versions of Epicurean community emerge in a space opened by literary and poetic representation. In contrast to other critiques of religious and political authority, libertine neo-Lucretianism most often posits pleasure not as the ultimate affirmation of a secular human subject but as this subject’s delightful dissolution or dispossession. The libertine turn to Lucretius is transnational and transgenerational, knitting together seventeenth- and eighteenth-century philosophies of pleasure, a libertinage érudit, and an enlightened libertinism preoccupied with the mechanics of the erotic encounter.
Marcus Aurelius and the Tradition of Spiritual Exercises
Authors: Sellars John
Published: March 2023

This chapter examines Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations and considers its status as a work of philosophy by placing it within a broader tradition of spiritual exercises in ancient philosophy. It presents the Meditations as a private notebook, never intended for publication, in which Marcus engaged in a series of written exercises aimed at self-examination. In particular, these exercises were aimed at assimilating and digesting key philosophical principles. Central to this process was the practice of paying close attention to principles at all times. In this context the notion of a spiritual exercise is introduced and its use by Musonius Rufus and Seneca is examined; then some specific spiritual exercises in the Meditations are discussed.
An urgent appeal to paediatric primary caregivers to help prevent severe iron deficiency anemia in toddlers
Authors: Gruda Sussman Raizl , Baker Jillian M
Published: March 2023

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common problem in toddlers. The cause of IDA is multifactorial but is often from excessive consumption of cow’s milk. The prevalence and at times devastating consequences of IDA are under recognized. There are increasing numbers of toddlers presenting with severe IDA. We urge all paediatric primary care givers to help prevent severe IDA through adherence to the 2019 CPS Guidelines on iron requirements, early diagnosis, and adequate treatment.
Structural basis and evolution of the photosystem I–light-harvesting supercomplex of cryptophyte algae
Authors: Zhao Long-Sheng , Wang Peng , Li Kang , Zhang Quan-Bao , He Fei-Yu , Li Chun-Yang , Su Hai-Nan , Chen Xiu-Lan , Liu Lu-Ning , Zhang Yu-Zhong
Published: March 2023

Cryptophyte plastids originated from a red algal ancestor through secondary endosymbiosis. Cryptophyte photosystem I (PSI) associates with transmembrane alloxanthin-chlorophyll a/c proteins (ACPIs) as light-harvesting complexes (LHCs). Here, we report the structure of the photosynthetic PSI–ACPI supercomplex from the cryptophyte Chroomonas placoidea at 2.7-Å resolution obtained by crygenic electron microscopy. Cryptophyte PSI–ACPI represents a unique PSI–LHCI intermediate in the evolution from red algal to diatom PSI–LHCI. The PSI–ACPI supercomplex is composed of a monomeric PSI core containing 14 subunits, 12 of which originated in red algae, 1 diatom PsaR homolog, and an additional peptide. The PSI core is surrounded by 14 ACPI subunits that form 2 antenna layers: an inner layer with 11 ACPIs surrounding the PSI core and an outer layer containing 3 ACPIs. A pigment-binding subunit that is not present in any other previously characterized PSI–LHCI complexes, ACPI-S, mediates the association and energy transfer between the outer and inner ACPIs. The extensive pigment network of PSI–ACPI ensures efficient light harvesting, energy transfer, and dissipation. Overall, the PSI–LHCI structure identified in this study provides a framework for delineating the mechanisms of energy transfer in cryptophyte PSI–LHCI and for understanding the evolution of photosynthesis in the red lineage, which occurred via secondary endosymbiosis.
GSK3 phosphorylates and regulates the Green Revolution protein Rht-B1b to reduce plant height in wheat
Authors: Dong Huixue , Li Danping , Yang Ruizhen , Zhang Lichao , Zhang Yunwei , Liu Xu , Kong Xiuying , Sun Jiaqiang
Published: March 2023

The utilization of stabilized DELLA proteins Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b was crucial for increasing wheat (Triticum aestivum) productivity during the Green Revolution. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be clarified. Here, we cloned a gain-of-function allele of the GSK3/SHAGGY-like kinase-encoding gene GSK3 by characterizing a dwarf wheat mutant. Furthermore, we determined that GSK3 interacts with and phosphorylates the Green Revolution protein Rht-B1b to promote it to reduce plant height in wheat. Specifically, phosphorylation by GSK3 may enhance the activity and stability of Rht-B1b, allowing it to inhibit the activities of its target transcription factors. Taken together, we reveal a positive regulatory mechanism for the Green Revolution protein Rht-B1b by GSK3, which might have contributed to the Green Revolution in wheat.
Alanine/EPR dosimetry for mailed intercomparison at ocular proton therapy facilities—preliminary results for three centres for irradaitions at CCB IFJ PAN eyeline
Authors: Michalec Barbara , De Angelis Cinzia , Foltyńska Gabriela , Horwacik Tomasz , Reniers Brigitte , Wochnik Agnieszka , Kopeć Renata , Swakoń Jan
Published: March 2023

Quality control of therapeutic photon beams in the form of postal dose audits based on passive dosemeters is widely used in photon radiotherapy. On the other hand, no standardised dosimetry audit programme for proton centres has been established in Europe so far. We evaluated alanine/EPR dosimetry systems developed at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italy), the Hasselt Universiteit (Belgium) and the Henryk Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland) for their applicability as a potential tool for routine mailed dose audits of passively scattered therapeutic proton beams. The evaluation was carried out in the form of an intercomparison. Dosemeters were irradiated in the 70 MeV proton beam at ocular proton therapy facility in the Cyclotron Centre Bronowice at the Henryk Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow. A very good agreement was found between the dose measured by three laboratories and the delivered dose determined with an ionisation chamber. This, together with the inherent properties of alanine, such as non-destructive readout, tissue equivalence, weak energy dependence, dose rate independence and insignificant fading, makes alanine a good candidate for a dosemeter used in postal auditing in proton ocular radiotherapy.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting the postcentral gyrus reduces malevolent creative ideation
Authors: Gao Zhenni , Lu Kelong , Hao Ning
Published: March 2023

Malevolent creativity (MC) is defined as a manifestation in which people propose to materially, mentally or physically harm themselves or others in a novel manner. Malevolent creative ideation can be inhibited by high moral emotions (i.e. sympathy, guilt and shame) and low negative emotions, which promote prosocial behaviors. Given that the right postcentral gyrus (PCG) is involved in generating sympathy and emotional recognition for others and the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG) is involved in emotional regulation, we suggest that the right PCG and right MFG may play important roles in malevolent creative ideation. In Study 1, we recruited 98 healthy and right-handed college participants (80 females, age = 21.11 ± 2.00 years) and examined the role of the right PCG in malevolent creative ideation using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). The results showed that the accuracy of emotional recognition changed when the right PCG received electrical stimulation. Enhancing the activation of the right PCG reduced MC originality and fluency, whereas inhibiting it increased MC originality and fluency. In Study 2, we recruited 91 healthy and right-handed college participants (74 females, age = 21.22 ± 2.28 years) and examined the role of the right MFG in malevolent creative ideation using tDCS. The results showed no significant difference in malevolent creative performance between the pre- and post-test when electrical stimulation was applied over the right MFG. These findings indicate that enhancing the activation of the right PCG, which is closely correlated with emotional recognition, reduces an individual’s malevolent creative ideation.
Bioecological Traits of Spittlebugs and Their Implications for the Epidemiology and Control of the Xylella fastidiosa Epidemic in Apulia (Southern Italy)
Authors: Bodino Nicola , Cavalieri Vincenzo , Dongiovanni Crescenza , Saponari Maria , Bosco Domenico
Published: March 2023

Spatial-temporal dynamics of spittlebug populations, together with transmission biology, are of major importance to outline the disease epidemiology of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca in Apulian olive groves. The spread rate of X. fastidiosa is mainly influenced by (i) the pathogen colonization of the host plant; (ii) the acquisition of the pathogen by the vector from an infected plant, and its inoculation to healthy plants; (iii) the vector population dynamics and abundance at different spatial scales; and (iv) the dispersal of the vector. In this contribution we summarize the recent advances in research on insect vectors’ traits—points ii, iii, and iv—focusing on those most relevant to X. fastidiosa epidemic in Apulia. Among the vectors’ bioecological traits influencing the X. fastidiosa epidemic in olive trees, we emphasize the following: natural infectivity and transmission efficiency, phenological timing of both nymphal and adult stage, the role of seminatural vegetation as a vector reservoir in the agroecosystem and landscape, and preferential and directional dispersal capabilities. Despite the research on X. fastidiosa vectors carried out in Europe in the last decade, key uncertainties on insect vectors remain, hampering a thorough understanding of pathogen epidemiology and the development of effective and targeted management strategies. Our goal is to provide a structured and contextualized review of knowledge on X. fastidiosa vectors’ key traits in the Apulian epidemic, highlighting information gaps and stimulating novel research pathways on X. fastidiosa pathosystems in Europe.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
miR‐145 inhibits aerobic glycolysis and cell proliferation of cervical cancer by acting on MYC
Authors: Hu Chenchen , Liu Tianyue , Zhang Wenxin , Sun Yuanjie , Jiang Dongbo , Zhang Xiyang , Liu Yang , Mao Siyi , Xu Yiming , Pan Jingyu , Wang Jing , Huang Yinan , Yang Shuya , Yang Kun
Published: March 2023

Nearly half a million women are diagnosed with cervical cancer (CC) each year, with the incidence of CC stabilizing or rising in low‐income and middle‐income countries. Cancer cells use metabolic reprogramming to meet the needs of rapid proliferation, known as the Warburg effect, but the mechanism of the Warburg effect in CC remains unclear. microRNAs (miRNAs) have a wide range of effects on gene expression and diverse modes of action, and they regulate genes for metabolic reprogramming. Dysregulation of miRNA expression leads to metabolic abnormalities in tumor cells and promotes tumorigenesis and tumor progression. In this study, we found that miR‐145 was negatively correlated with metabolic reprogramming‐related genes and prevented the proliferation and metastasis of CC cell lines by impeding aerobic glycolysis. A dual‐luciferase reporter assay showed that miR‐145 can bind to the 3′‐untranslated region (3′‐UTR) of MYC. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation‐quantitative real‐time PCR indicated that MYC was involved in the regulation of glycolysis‐related genes. In addition, miR‐145 mimics significantly suppressed the growth of CC cell xenograft tumor, prolonged the survival time of mice, and dramatically silenced the expression of tumor proliferation marker Ki‐67. Therefore, the results suggested that miR‐145 affects aerobic glycolysis through MYC, which may be a potential target for the treatment of CC.
Cardiac Myosin Activator Omecamtiv Mecarbil: Novel Treatment for Systolic Heart Failure
Authors: Mack Maat , Frishman William H.
Published: March 2023

Systolic Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome characterized by a decrease in cardiac contractility and a reduction in organ perfusion. Current pharmacologic inotropes attempt to improve contractility via indirect mechanisms but are limited in terms of safety and effectiveness. Omecamtiv mecarbil is a novel agent in a new class of drugs known as cardiac myosin activators; their unique mechanism of action involves directly activating the enzymatic pathway in the cardiac myocyte as a way to improve ventricular contraction. Preclinical and clinical trials have found that omecamtiv mecarbil improves cardiac contractility without increasing the risk of any of the harmful effects that are associated with the currently available inotropic agents. Omecamtiv mecarbil is a worthwhile advance and patients with systolic heart failure would benefit from pharmacological use of this drug.
Zonule-Associated Gene Variants in Isolated Ectopia Lentis and Glaucoma
Authors: Huang Longxiang , Xu Tingting , Gan Jiahe , Mao Yukai , Zhao Lijun , Jiao Xiaodong , Fan Mengjie , Wang Tingting , Zhang Daren , Xu Meng , Zhu Yihua , Hejtmancik James Fielding , Liu Xuyang
Published: March 2023

Précis:

We report 3 novel variants in fibrillin-1 (FBN1) and latent transforming growth factor-β–binding protein 2 (LTBP2) in 3 families with isolated ectopia lentis (EL), which shed new light on the diagnosis and genetic counseling of EL and secondary glaucoma in clinical settings.

Purpose:

To explore the genetic mechanism in 3 families with isolated EL and secondary angle closure glaucoma.

Methods:

Three Han Chinese families with EL and glaucoma were recruited. All of the participants underwent complete ocular and general physical examinations and DNA samples were extracted from peripheral venous blood and screened for disease-causing variants using whole exome and Sanger sequencing. In silico analyses were performed to predict the structural and functional changes in gene variants and abnormal proteins.

Results:

All 3 probands presented with EL and pupillary-blocking glaucoma. Genetic testing showed that all the patients have zonule-related gene mutations, with the proband (II:1), as well as his mother (I:2) and daughters (III:1 and III:2) from family 1 carrying a heterozygous mutation in FBN1 gene (c.6493G>T:p.(V2165L)); the proband (II:1) from family 2 carrying a heterozygous mutation in FBN1 gene (c.2543C>A:p.(T848N)), and the proband (II:1) from family 3 carrying a pair of compound heterozygous mutations in LTBP2 gene (c.4825T>A:p.(C1609S) / c.529T>C:p.(W177R)). No other genetic variants were found to be associated with the phenotypes of patients and other family members in this study. All variants are predicted to affect the structure and function of proteins as risk factors for EL based on bioinformatics analysis.

Conclusion:

Four novel mutations were identified in 3 families with EL, suggesting an intimate link between specific mutations in FBN1 and LTBP2 and isolated EL and angle closure glaucoma. Our results expanded the variant spectrum of zonule-related genes and helped explore the underlying molecular pathology of these disorders.
Associations Between Niacin Intake and Glaucoma in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Lee Samuel Y. , Tseng Victoria L. , Kitayama Ken , Avallone Thomas J. , Yu Fei , Pan Deyu , Caprioli Joseph , Coleman Anne L.
Published: March 2023

Précis:

This study examined the association between dietary niacin intake and glaucoma in the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Increased niacin intake was associated with lower odds of glaucoma overall and among women.

Purpose:

To examine the association between dietary niacin intake and glaucoma in the 2005-2008 NHANES.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study included adult participants of the 2005-2008 NHANES. The exposure was dietary niacin intake, which was examined as a continuous and categorical variable. The outcome was glaucoma as defined by regraded disc images. Covariates included age, sex, race/ethnicity, education level, income, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol use, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, daily energy intake, vitamin B2 and B6 consumption, and macular degeneration. Adjusting for all covariates, logistic regression was performed to examine the association between niacin intake and glaucoma in the overall population and stratified by sex.

Results:

The weighted population included 5371 individuals (109,734,124 weighted), of whom 55 (1.0%) had glaucoma. Each 1 mg increase in niacin intake was associated with a 6% decreased odds of glaucoma odds [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.90, 0.98]. Among women, increased niacin intake was associated with decreased odds of glaucoma both with niacin as a continuous (aOR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.80, 0.99 per 1 mg increase in niacin intake) and binary variable (aOR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.14, 0.90 for higher vs lower niacin intake).

Conclusions:

In the 2005-2008 NHANES population, higher levels of niacin intake were associated with decreased odds of glaucoma overall and in women. Further studies are needed to examine the potential protective effects of niacin on glaucoma risk.
Improving screening of prediabetes and undiagnosed diabetes
Authors: Iacoboni Jacalyn , Knox Louise
Published: March 2023

Background:

Type II diabetes mellitus is a chronic medical condition affecting societies worldwide. The duration of hyperglycemia is a strong predictor of adverse outcomes and imposes immense clinical and public health concerns. The best way to prevent complications and reduce the economic burden is by capturing asymptomatic individuals early in the disease process.

Local problem:

Patients at a large urban academic medical center were not consistently identified as having a high risk of hyperglycemia.

Methods:

The project used a pretest–posttest design. Retrospective data on new-onset hyperglycemia incidence were compared for all individuals seeking primary care services 6 weeks before and after the intervention.

Intervention:

Patients without a known hyperglycemia history were provided the screening tool to determine risk status. Additional screening measures were implemented for patients identified as high risk on the initial screening.

Results:

A total of 52 (61.6%) of the 84 individuals who met inclusion criteria during the intervention period were diagnosed with new-onset chronic hyperglycemia. In contrast, 20 (22.5%) of the 89 individuals identified during the retrospective period resulted in a statistically significant difference (p < .001) in the frequency and accuracy of patients diagnosed with hyperglycemia between groups.

Conclusion:

A diabetes risk assessment tool is quick and reliable in capturing high-risk individuals who would benefit from additional screening measures.
Pediatric Magnet Ingestion, Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention: A European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) Position Paper
Authors: Nugud A.A. , Tzivinikos Christos , Assa Amit , Borrelli Osvaldo , Broekaert Ilse , Martin-de-Carpi Javier , Deganello Saccomani Marco , Dolinsek Jernej , Homan M. , Mas Emmanuel , Miele Erasmo , Thomson Mike , Benninga Marc A. ,   The Gastrointestinal Committee of ESPGHAN
Published: March 2023

Magnet ingestion is a special category of foreign body ingestion associated with high levels of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly if it is associated with staggered ingestion of multiple magnets or with simultaneous ingestion of other metallic foreign bodies, especially button batteries. A special category of magnet ingestion is the ingestion of earth magnets, which have higher levels of magnetism and therefore, potentially, carries a worse outcome.

Legislative bodies, scientific Societies and community-led initiatives have been implemented worldwide with the aim of mitigating the effects of this growing, yet avoidable potential medical emergency.

A scoping literature review summarized epidemiology, diagnosis, management, and prevention, including an algorithm for the diagnosis and management of magnet ingestion is presented and compared to previously published reviews and position papers (North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, National Poison Center, Royal College of Emergency Medicine). The main emphasis of the algorithm is on identification of staggered/multiple magnet ingestion, and early joint gastroenterology and surgical consultation and management.
Using a New Deep Learning Method for 3D Cephalometry in Patients With Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Xu Meng , Liu Bingyang , Luo Zhaoyang , Ma Hengyuan , Sun Min , Wang Yongqian , Yin Ningbei , Tang Xiaojun , Song Tao
Published: March 2023

Deep learning algorithms based on automatic 3-dimensional (D) cephalometric marking points about people without craniomaxillofacial deformities has achieved good results. However, there has been no previous report about cleft lip and palate. The purpose of this study is to apply a new deep learning method based on a 3D point cloud graph convolutional neural network to predict and locate landmarks in patients with cleft lip and palate based on the relationships between points. The authors used the PointNet++ model to investigate the automatic 3D cephalometric marking points. And the mean distance error of the center coordinate position and the success detection rate (SDR) were used to evaluate the accuracy of systematic labeling. A total of 150 patients were enrolled. The mean distance error for all 27 landmarks was 1.33 mm, and 9 landmarks (30%) showed SDRs at 2 mm over 90%, and 3 landmarks (35%) showed SDRs at 2 mm under 70%. The automatic 3D cephalometric marking points take 16 seconds per dataset. In summary, our training sets were derived from the cleft lip with/without palate computed tomography to achieve accurate results. The 3D cephalometry system based on the graph convolutional neural network algorithm may be suitable for 3D cephalometry system in cleft lip and palate cases. More accurate results may be obtained if the cleft lip and palate training set is expanded in the future.
International Liver Transplantation Society/Society for Advancement of Transplant Anesthesia Consensus Statement on Essential Attributes of a Liver Transplant Anesthesiologist
Authors: Nguyen-Buckley Christine , Bezinover Dmitri S. , Bhangui Pooja , Biancofiore Gianni , Blasi Annabel , Chadha Ryan , Pustavoitau Aliaksei , Sabate Antoni , Saner Fuat H. , Wagener Gebhard , Wray Christopher L. , Zerillo Jeron , Pan Terry Ling Te
Published: March 2023

Background.

We sought to establish consensus on the essential skills, knowledge, and attributes that a liver transplant (LT) anesthesiologist should possess in a bid to help guide the further training process.

Methods.

Consensus was achieved via a modified Delphi methodology, surveying 15 identified international experts in the fields of LT anesthesia and critical care.

Results.

Key competencies were identified in preoperative management and optimization of a potential LT recipient; intraoperative management, including hemodynamic monitoring; coagulation and potential crisis management; and postoperative intensive and enhanced recovery care.

Conclusions.

This article provides an essential guide to competency-based training of an LT anesthesiologist.
Diagnosis of a brain stroke using wideband microwave scattering
Authors: Ismail Dastan , Mustafa Samah
Published: March 2023

This paper presents a new computer-aided microwave monitoring system as a promising, portable and inexpensive tool to detect and localize brain stroke using a bank of a new wavelet-matched filters. The head is exposed to microwave radiation over the band from 1.1 to 3 GHz, and the backscattered signals at a hemi-elliptical array of 16 antenna elements surrounding the head are filtered to analyse the perturbation in the microwave signals from the brain. A novel technique is applied to remove the strong reflection from the air–skull interface as a way to estimate the target response and is compared with different techniques from literature to portray their role in the performance. The study results approve that the intensity and the distribution of wavelet energy and Shannon wavelet entropy in the filtered microwave signal, and the novel tool based on the distance between the wavelet energies at symmetric opposite antennas are promising candidate signatures for computer-aided detection and localization of a stroke.
The Role of Diet on the Gut Microbiome, Mood and Happiness
Authors: Martin Sydney E. , Kraft Colleen S. , Ziegler Thomas R. , Millson Erin C. , Rishishwar Lavanya , Martin Greg S.
Published: March 2023

The gut microbiome may be both helpful and harmful, and not only is it affected by diet, it has also been shown to affect mental health including personality, mood, anxiety and depression. In this clinical study we assessed dietary nutrient composition, mood, happiness, and the gut microbiome in order to understand the role of diet in the gut microbiome and how that affects mood and happiness. For this pilot study, we enrolled 20 adults to follow this protocol: recording a 2-day food log, sampling their gut microbiome, and completing five validated surveys of mental health, mood, happiness and well-being, followed by a minimum 1 week diet change and repeating the food log, microbiome sampling and the 5 surveys. The change from a predominantly Western diet to vegetarian, Mediterranean and ketogenic diets led to changes in calorie and fiber intake. After the diet change, we observed significant changes in measures of anxiety, well-being and happiness, and without changes in gut microbiome diversity. We found strong correlations between greater consumption of fat and protein to lower anxiety and depression, while consuming higher percentages of carbohydrates was associated with increased stress, anxiety, and depression. We also found strong negative correlations between total calories and total fiber intake with gut microbiome diversity without correlations to measures of mental health, mood or happiness. We have shown that changing diet affects mood and happiness, that greater fat and carbohydrate intake is directly associated with anxiety and depression and inversely correlated with gut microbiome diversity. This study is an important step towards understanding how our diet affects the gut microbiome and in turn our mood, happiness and mental health.
PGAR-Zernike: an ultra-fast, accurate and fully open-source structure retrieval toolkit for convenient structural database construction
Authors: Qi Junhai , Feng Chenjie , Shi Yulin , Yang Jianyi , zhang Fa , Li Guojun , Han Renmin
Published: March 2023

With the release of AlphaFold2, protein model databases are growing at an unprecedented rate. Efficient structure retrieval schemes are becoming more and more important to quickly analyze structure models. The core problem in structural retrieval is how to measure the similarity between structures. Some structure alignment algorithms can solve this problem but at a substantial time cost. At present, the state-of-the-art method is to convert protein structures into 3D Zernike descriptors and evaluate the similarity between structures by Euclidean distance. However, methods for computing 3D Zernike descriptors of protein structures are almost always based on structural surfaces and most are web servers, which is not conducive for users to analyze customized datasets. To overcome this limitation, we propose PGAR-Zernike, a convenient toolkit for computing different types of Zernike descriptors of structures: the user simply needs to enter one line of command to calculate the Zernike descriptors of all structures in a customized datasets. Compared with the state-of-the-art method based on 3D Zernike descriptors and an efficient structural comparison tool, PGAR-Zernike achieves higher retrieval accuracy and binary classification accuracy on benchmark datasets with different attributes. In addition, we show how PGA-Zernike completes the construction of the descriptor database and the protocol used for the PDB dataset so as to facilitate the local deployment of this tool for interested readers. We construct a demonstration containing 590685 structures; at this scale, our retrieval system takes only 4 ~ 9 seconds to complete a retrieval, and experiments show that it reaches the state-of-the-art level in terms of accuracy. PGAR-Zernike is an open-source toolkit, whose source code and related data are accessible athttps://github.com/junhaiqi/PGAR-Zernike/.
Structural and thermodynamic consequences of base pairs containing pseudouridine and N1-methylpseudouridine in RNA duplexes
Authors: Dutta Nivedita , Deb Indrajit , Sarzynska Joanna , Lahiri Ansuman
Published: March 2023

Pseudouridine (Ψ) is one of the most common post-transcriptional modifications in RNA and has been known to play significant roles in several crucial biological processes. The N1-methyl derivative of pseudouridine i.e N1-methylpseudouridine has also been reported to be important for the stability and function of RNA. Several studies suggest the importance of pseudouridine and N1-methylpseudouridine in mRNA therapeutics. The critical contribution of pseudouridine, especially that of its N1-methyl derivative in the efficiency of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, suggests the requirement to better understand the role of these modifications in the structure, stability and function of RNA. In the present study, we have investigated the consequences of the presence of these modifications in the stability of RNA duplex structures by analyzing different structural properties, hydration characteristics and energetics of these duplexes. We have previously studied the structural and thermodynamic properties of RNA duplexes with an internal Ψ-A pair and reported the stabilizing effect of Ψ over U (Deb, I. et al.Sci Rep9, 16278 (2019)). Here, we have extended our work to understand the properties of RNA duplexes with an internal m1Ψ-A pair and also theoretically demonstrate the effect of substituting internal U-G, U-U and U-C mismatches with the Ψ-G, Ψ-U and Ψ-C mismatches and also with the m1Ψ-G, m1Ψ-U and m1Ψ-C mismatches respectively, within dsRNA. Our results indicate the context-dependent stabilization of base stacking interactions by N1-methylpseudouridine compared to uridine and pseudouridine, presumably resulting from the increased molecular polarizability due to the presence of the methyl group.
Global longitudinal strain and plasma biomarkers for prognosis in heart failure complicated by diabetes
Authors: Iyer Nithin R. , Chan Siew-Pang , Liew Oi Wah , Chong Jenny P.C. , Bryant Jennifer A. , Le Thu-Thao , Chandramouli Chanchal , Cozzone Patrick J. , Eisenhaber Frank , Foo Roger , Richards A. Mark , Lam Carolyn S.P. , Ugander Martin , Chin Calvin W-L.
Published: March 2023

Background

Heart failure (HF) and diabetes are associated with increased incidence and worse prognosis of each other. The prognostic value of global longitudinal strain (GLS) measured by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has not been established in HF patients with diabetes.

Methods

Consecutive patients (n=315) with HF underwent CMR at 3T, including GLS, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), native T1, and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) mapping. Plasma biomarker concentrations were measured including: N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity troponin T(hs-TnT), growth differentiation factor 15(GDF-15), soluble ST2(sST2) and galectin 3(Gal-3). The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality or HF hospitalisation.

Results

Compared to those without diabetes (n=156), the diabetes group (n=159) had a higher LGE prevalence (76 vs 60%, p<0.05), higher T1 (1285±42 vs 1269±42ms, p<0.001) and higher ECV (30.5±3.5 vs 28.8±4.1%, p<0.001). The diabetes group had higher NT-pro-BNP, hs-TnT, GDF-15, sST2 and Gal-3. Diabetes conferred worse prognosis (hazard ratio (HR) 2.33 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43-3.79], p<0.001). In multivariable Cox regression analysis including clinical markers and plasma biomarkers, sST2 alone remained independently associated with the primary outcome (HR per 1 ng/mL 1.04 [95% CI 1.02-1.07], p=0.001). In multivariable Cox regression models in the diabetes group, both GLS and sST2 remained prognostic (GLS: HR 1.12 [95% CI 1.03-1.21], p=0.01; sST2: HR per 1 ng/mL 1.03 [95% CI 1.00-1.06], p=0.02).

Conclusions

Compared to HF patients without diabetes, those with diabetes have worse plasma and CMR markers of fibrosis and a more adverse prognosis. GLS is a powerful and independent prognostic marker in HF patients with diabetes.
Chinese moyamoya disease study:cohort profile
Authors: Hao Fang-Bin , Han Cong , Gao Gan , Liu Si-meng , Wang Min-jie , Yang Ri-Miao , Zou Zheng-Xing , Yu Dan , Sun Caihong , Zhang Qian , Zhang Houdi , Guo Qing-Bao , Wang Xiao-Peng , Shen Xuxuan , Fu Heguan , Li JingJie , Zhang Zheng-shan , Bao Xiang-Yang , Feng Jie , Li Bin , Ren Bin , Wang Hui , Wang Qian-Nan , Pei Songtao , Zhao Bo , Zou Zhenglong , Han Yi-Qin , Tong Huaiyu , Sun Zhenghui , Liu Miao , Duan Lian
Published: March 2023

Background

The etiology and natural course of moyamoya disease (MMD) remain unknown. This study evaluated the natural course and etiology of MMD using data from the Chinese MMD (C-MMD) cohort study.

Methods

The C-MMD cohort consisted of 6,167 patients with MMD treated at our center over the past 20 years. We analyzed the medical history and laboratory and imaging examination results of the patients at different stages of the disease to identify common features of MMD.

Results

The median age for symptom onset was 32 years. The age distribution was bimodal; the highest peak was between ages 35 and 45 years, with a smaller peak between ages 3 and 9 years. The female-to-male ratio was 1:1. The disease occurred mainly in the Han people and was rarely observed in minority nationalities. In our cohort, a transient ischemic attack was the most common initial clinical manifestation (46.3%); others included infarction (25.0%), hemorrhage (15.1%), and headache (7.9%).

Conclusions

The C-MMD cohort is currently one of the largest single-center MMD cohorts in the world. This study provides baseline data for future research on the etiology and natural course of MMD.

Clinical Trial Registration

This study has been registered in the Chinese Clinical trial registry (registration number: ChiCTR2200064160).
Using accelerometers to infer behaviour of cryptic species in the wild
Authors: Benoit Laura , Bonnot Nadège C. , Debeffe Lucie , Grémillet David , Hewison A.J. Mark , Marchand Pascal , Puch Laura , Bonnet Arnaud , Cargnelutti Bruno , Cebe Nicolas , Lourtet Bruno , Coulon Aurélie , Morellet Nicolas
Published: March 2023

Accelerometery is revolutionising the field of behavioural ecology through its capacity to detect the fine-scale movements of animals resulting from their behaviour. Because it is often difficult to infer the behaviour of wildlife on a continuous basis, particularly for cryptic species, accelerometers potentially provide powerful tools for remote monitoring of their behavioural responses to the environment.

The goal of this study was to provide a detailed, calibrated methodology, including practical guidelines, to infer the behaviour of free-ranging animals from acceleration data. This approach can be employed to reliably infer the time budget of species that are difficult to observe in certain environments or at certain times of the day. To this end, we trained several behavioural classification algorithms with accelerometer data obtained on captive roe deer, then validated these algorithms with data obtained on free-ranging roe deer, and finally predicted the time-budgets of a substantial sample of unobserved free-ranging roe deer in a human-dominated landscape.

The best classification algorithm was the Random Forest which predicted five behavioural classes with a high overall level of accuracy (≈ 90%). Except for grooming (34-38%), we were able to predict the behaviour of free-ranging roe deer over the course of a day with high accuracy, in particular, foraging head down, running, walking and immobile (68-94%). Applied to free-ranging individuals, the classification allowed us to estimate, for example, that roe deer spent about twice as much time foraging head-down, walking or running during dawn and dusk than during daylight or night-time.

By integrating step by step calibration and validation of accelerometer data prior to application in the wild, our approach is transferable to other free-ranging animals for predicting key behaviours in cryptic species.
Linking biological variation to outcomes of statin treatment in the general population
Authors: Hlushchenko Iryna , Islam Mohammad Majharul , Tamlander Max , Ripatti Samuli , Pfisterer Simon George
Published: March 2023

Interindividual differences for outcomes of lipid-lowering therapy are well known. Alterations in cellular pathways may contribute to the phenomenon. To address this question, we employed an automated multiplexed analysis pipeline to systematically characterize alterations in cellular lipid trafficking in leukocytes from 400 subjects of the FINRISK 2012 Study. Of individuals receiving high-intensity statin therapy those with lower cellular lipid trafficking scores displayed higher circulating concentrations of several pro-atherogenic lipoproteins and had higher odds for myocardial infarction and stroke when compared to the rest of the subjects with equivalent treatment. Most subjects with a poor lipid trafficking score did not reach low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target levels on statin monotherapy. Lipid trafficking scores showed synergy with a polygenic risk score for LDL-C, improving the association with pro-atherogenic lipoprotein profile when combined. Our results suggest that quantification of cellular lipid trafficking can aid in treatment selection and risk assessment in dyslipidemia.

Graphical Abstract
Technological advances in supply chain of processed foods during COVID-19: a review
Authors: Anis Zainab Bintay , Iqbal Rashid , Nazir Wahab , Khalid Nauman
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) variant of 2019 has taken more than 3.8 million lives according to the World Health Organization. To stop the spread of such a deadly and contagious disease, lockdown of varying nature was imposed worldwide. Lockdown, preventive techniques and observation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) have effectively decreased the spread of contagious diseases but have affected various businesses and industries economically. The food industry has been hit hard by different restriction parameters, due to which a disruption in food supply and demand was observed. Therefore, this study aims to study this disruption in the supply chain of processed food.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive review was conducted on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus to locate articles on processed foods, food delivery and supply chain. The selected articles were evaluated using the context analysis method.

Findings

The pandemic situation has increased the consumption and demand for processed food products from retail stores, and decreased the demand for food service products. These circumstances called for technological advancement in the field of food supply from farm to fork. This study reviews research articles, policies and secondary literature. Several advances have been made to deliver safe, nutritious and wholesome food to consumers. Block chain-based food supply chains, value stream mapping, sustainable supply chain domain and online ordering systems via mobile apps have been discussed in correspondence with information and communication technology (ICT) during COVID-19.

Research limitations/implications

This study concludes that the use of advanced software and its adequate knowledge by suppliers, logistics companies and consumers have assisted in handling shocks to the global food system and provided in-time food delivery, traceability, database information and securely processed food to consumers.

Originality/value

This study shows the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on global food systems; disruption in food demand and supply chain is overlooked and changed; use of technological advances in food supply chain to tackle pandemic; online food ordering system gained popularity and improved technically.

Highlights

The review highlights the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on global food systems.

The disruption in food demand and supply chain is overlooked and changed.

The use of technological advances in the food supply chain to tackle the pandemic.

The online food ordering system gained popularity and improved technically.
Influence pH on virulence genes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa analyzed by RT-PCR method
Authors: Hassan Al-Fhdawi Ahmed Attalah , Rabee Adel Mashaan
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of environmental pH on production of biofilms and virulence genes expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Design/methodology/approach

Among 303 clinical and environmental samples 109 (61 + 48) isolates were identified as clinical and environmental P. aeruginosa isolates, respectively. Clinical samples were obtained from patients in the Al-Yarmouk hospital in Baghdad city, Iraq. Waste water from Al-Yarmouk hospital was used from site before treatment unit to collect environmental samples. The ability of producing biofilm at various pH levels was examined by microtiter plate and the prevalence of Alg D, Psl A and Pel A was determined by quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Findings

This study showed that the ability of clinical and environmental isolates to biofilm development was observed in 86.9% and 85.42% of clinical and environmental isolates, respectively. As well as, the environmental P. aeruginosa isolates showed the highest biofilm production at pH 7. Clinical isolates showed the highest genes expression of Alg D, Psl A and Pel A as compared to environmental isolates with pH change. In general, both clinical and environmental isolates formed biofilm and carried AlgD, PslA and PelA genes. Also, alkaline pH was favored for biofilm production.

Originality/value

There are very few studies done to find out the influence of environmental pH on production of biofilms and virulence genes expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This study is unique as it has highlighted the influence of environmental pH on the ability of clinical and environmental isolates to biofilm development and genes expression.
How am I doing? Soliciting student feedback in the secondary English classroom
Authors: Davis-Porada Natalie
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore three methods of soliciting student-to-teacher feedback in a tenth-grade English classroom.

Design/methodology/approach

The foundational inquiry asks what type of instructions – sentence stems, open-response or directed-response – yields the most honest and actionable responses when soliciting feedback. The data were coded for the presence and quality of constructive feedback and rationales, and their content was examined for classroom implications relating to the inclusion of student voice writ large.

Findings

The three sets of anonymous responses, each prompted by one of the types of instructions named above, suggested four trends irrespective of solicitation style: students were unlikely to critique their teacher; students seldom provided a rationale for their comments; students often spoke more about the personal rather than academic nature of their experiences; and students often addressed the class environment and the class collective as integral to their learning experiences.

Originality/value

These trends encouraged six considerations in the practice of including student voice in the author’s own classroom and beyond: we must validate student critique, co-define concepts that are central to effective feedback, time invitations thoughtfully, create a constant feedback loop rather than isolated collections, invite feedback practices that are collaborative among students and let go of singular notions of student voice.
The professional identity of intern psychologists during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
Authors: Lourens Heidi , Uren Sarah
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to explore the development of the professional identity of South African intern psychologists during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper – that presents a historical reflection borne from a significant moment in time – aimed to capture what the authors can learn from this specific cohort of intern psychologists and their experiences of work-based learning.

Design/methodology/approach

Through the lens of the interpretative phenomenological approach, the authors analysed seven semi-structured interviews. Data analysis involved a line-by-line analysis of each individual transcript, where after a thorough, in-depth analysis was conducted across all the cases.

Findings

Against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings demonstrated the interns' initial uncertainties, severe exhaustion, perceived gaps in their training, and resilience despite unusual and difficult circumstances in their WBL internship.

Research limitations

The study was limited to seven intern psychologists in South Africa.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that support – during and after the COVID-19 pandemic – is crucial throughout the training of psychologists and means to facilitate and develop professional identity and resilience. This will provide the opportunity to safeguard emerging healthcare professionals from burnout while simultaneously advocating for supportive WBL and continual professional development spaces protecting healthcare professionals and the public.

Originality/value

With this article, we explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the professional identity development of intern psychologists (psychologists in training). The authors expand on the aforementioned original contribution, since the authors situate their research within the Global South. More specifically, the authors explored how intern psychologists' developed their professional identities against the backdrop of a largely resource-scarce context of South Africa.