bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach with neuroendocrine differentiation: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Fei He , Li Ze-Feng , Chen Ying-Tai , Zhao Dong-Bing
Published: August 2023

In recent years, because of the growing desire to improve the noninvasiveness and safety of tumor treatments, sonodynamic therapy has gradually become a popular research topic. However, due to the complexity of the therapeutic process, the relevant mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. One of the widely accepted possibilities involves the effect of reactive oxygen species. In this review, the mechanism of reactive oxygen species production by sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and ways to enhance the sonodynamic production of reactive oxygen species are reviewed. Then, the clinical application and limitations of SDT are discussed. In conclusion, current research on sonodynamic therapy should focus on the development of sonosensitizers that efficiently produce active oxygen, exhibit biological safety, and promote the clinical transformation of sonodynamic therapy.
Acquired haemophilia as a complicating factor in treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: A case report
Authors: Ryšánková Kateřina , Gumulec Jaromír , Grepl Michal , Krhut Jan
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND

Acquired haemophilia (AH) is a serious autoimmune haematological disease caused by the production of auto-antibodies against coagulation factor VIII. In some patients, AH is associated with a concomitant malignancy. In case of surgical intervention, AH poses a high risk of life-threatening bleeding.

CASE SUMMARY

A 60-year-old female patient with multiple recurrences of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer underwent transurethral tumour resection. A severe haematuria developed postoperatively warranting two endoscopic revisions; however, no clear source of bleeding was identified in the bladder. Subsequent haematological examination established a diagnosis of AH. Treatment with factor VIII inhibitor bypass activity and immunosuppressive therapy was initiated immediately. The patient responded well to the therapy and was discharged from the hospital 21 d after the primary surgery. At the 38-mo follow-up, both AH and bladder cancer remained in complete remission.

CONCLUSION

AH is a rare, life-threatening haematological disease. AH should be considered in patients with persistent severe haematuria or other bleeding symptoms, especially if combined with isolated activated partial thromboplastin time prolongation.
TINAVI robot-assisted one-stage anteroposterior surgery in lateral position for severe thoracolumbar fracture dislocation: A case report
Authors: Ye Sen , Chen Yan-Zhen , Zhong Ling-Jian , Yu Chang-Zhang , Zhang Han-Kun , Hong Yang
Published: August 2023

In recent years, because of the growing desire to improve the noninvasiveness and safety of tumor treatments, sonodynamic therapy has gradually become a popular research topic. However, due to the complexity of the therapeutic process, the relevant mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. One of the widely accepted possibilities involves the effect of reactive oxygen species. In this review, the mechanism of reactive oxygen species production by sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and ways to enhance the sonodynamic production of reactive oxygen species are reviewed. Then, the clinical application and limitations of SDT are discussed. In conclusion, current research on sonodynamic therapy should focus on the development of sonosensitizers that efficiently produce active oxygen, exhibit biological safety, and promote the clinical transformation of sonodynamic therapy.
Individual with concurrent chest wall tuberculosis and triple-negative essential thrombocythemia: A case report
Authors: Xu Xiao-Yan , Yang Yong-Bin , Yuan Jun , Zhang Xiao-Xia , Kang Lin , Ma Xiang-Shu , Yang Jie
Published: August 2023

In recent years, because of the growing desire to improve the noninvasiveness and safety of tumor treatments, sonodynamic therapy has gradually become a popular research topic. However, due to the complexity of the therapeutic process, the relevant mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. One of the widely accepted possibilities involves the effect of reactive oxygen species. In this review, the mechanism of reactive oxygen species production by sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and ways to enhance the sonodynamic production of reactive oxygen species are reviewed. Then, the clinical application and limitations of SDT are discussed. In conclusion, current research on sonodynamic therapy should focus on the development of sonosensitizers that efficiently produce active oxygen, exhibit biological safety, and promote the clinical transformation of sonodynamic therapy.
Self-strangulation induced penile partial amputation: A case report
Authors: Maimaitiming A-Bu-Lai-Ti , Mulati Ye-Li-Su-Dan , Apizi Ai-Re-Ti , Li Xiao-Dong
Published: August 2023

In recent years, because of the growing desire to improve the noninvasiveness and safety of tumor treatments, sonodynamic therapy has gradually become a popular research topic. However, due to the complexity of the therapeutic process, the relevant mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. One of the widely accepted possibilities involves the effect of reactive oxygen species. In this review, the mechanism of reactive oxygen species production by sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and ways to enhance the sonodynamic production of reactive oxygen species are reviewed. Then, the clinical application and limitations of SDT are discussed. In conclusion, current research on sonodynamic therapy should focus on the development of sonosensitizers that efficiently produce active oxygen, exhibit biological safety, and promote the clinical transformation of sonodynamic therapy.
Kawasaki disease with peritonsillar abscess as the first symptom: A case report
Authors: Huo Li-Man , Li Li-Min , Peng Hao-Yang , Wang Li-Jia , Feng Zhang-Ying
Published: August 2023

In recent years, because of the growing desire to improve the noninvasiveness and safety of tumor treatments, sonodynamic therapy has gradually become a popular research topic. However, due to the complexity of the therapeutic process, the relevant mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. One of the widely accepted possibilities involves the effect of reactive oxygen species. In this review, the mechanism of reactive oxygen species production by sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and ways to enhance the sonodynamic production of reactive oxygen species are reviewed. Then, the clinical application and limitations of SDT are discussed. In conclusion, current research on sonodynamic therapy should focus on the development of sonosensitizers that efficiently produce active oxygen, exhibit biological safety, and promote the clinical transformation of sonodynamic therapy.
Trends in prevalence and implant types in the Nova Scotia Joint Database Registry between 2005 and 2021
Authors: Pasache Lozano Rocio D. P. , Valencia Ramón Edwin A. , Johnston David G. , Trenholm J. A. I.
Published: August 2023

Aims

The aim of this study is to evaluate the change in incidence rate of shoulder arthroplasty, indications, and surgeon volume trends associated with these procedures between January 2003 and April 2021 in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada.

Methods

A total of 1,545 patients between 2005 and 2021 were analyzed. Patients operated on between 2003 and 2004 were excluded due to a lack of electronic records. Overall, 84.1% of the surgeries (n = 1,299) were performed by two fellowship-trained upper limb surgeons, with the remainder performed by one of the 14 orthopaedic surgeons working in the province.

Results

Total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) was the most frequent procedure (32.17%; n = 497), followed by stemmed hemiarthroplasty (SHA) (27.7%; n = 428). The most frequent indication for primary shoulder arthroplasty was degenerative osteoarthritis (58.1%; n = 882), followed by acute proximal humerus fracture in 15.11% (n = 245), and rotator cuff arthropathy in 14.18% (n = 220). The overall rate of revision was 7.7% (2.8% to 11.2%). The number of TSAs and reverse shoulder arthroplasties (RSAs) has been increasing since 2016. The amount of revision cases is proportional to the number of operations performed in the same year throughout the study period.

Conclusion

The incidence of shoulder arthroplasty in the Maritime Provinces has increased over the last 16 years. Revision rates are similar the those found in other large database registries. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty prevalence has increased since 2016.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(8):567–572.
Negociaciones con el ruido del convento de San Jerónimo: efectos de la acústica en la vida y obra de sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
Authors: Canton Isaac
Published: August 2023

RESUMEN: En este artículo examino los efectos de la acústica del convento de San Jerónimo en la vida y obra de sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. Con énfasis en la Respuesta a sor Filotea de la Cruz y Primero sueño , mi argumento es que la relación que sor Juana estableció con los sonidos a los que estuvo expuesta influyó en sus hábitos y su poesía, llevándola a establecer las bases de una poética en parte modelada por la experiencia acústica. En esa dirección, exploro los modos en los que esta poética dialoga y reinterpreta la tradición del silencio de la poesía místico-espiritual española del siglo XVI. Finalmente, pongo la sensibilidad acústica de sor Juana en diálogo con las preocupaciones sonoras de los intelectuales del siglo XIX con la intención de mostrar los modos en que el trabajo de sor Juana anticipó intereses y sensibilidades a menudo asociadas a la modernidad. Abstract (Lang: English): In this article, I examine the effects of the acoustics of the Convent of San Jerónimo on the life and work of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. With emphasis on the “Respuesta a Sor Filotea de la Cruz” y “Primero sueño”, my argument is that the relationship that Sor Juana established with the sounds to which she was exposed influenced her habits and her poetry, leading her to establish the foundations of a poetics in part shaped by the acoustic experience. Then, I explore how Sor Juana’s poetics dialogues with and reinterprets the tradition of silence in sixteenth-century Spanish mystical-spiritual poetry. Finally, I put Sor Juana’s acoustic sensibility in conversation with nineteenth-century intellectuals’ concerns about noise. I do this to show how Sor Juana’s work anticipated interests and sensibilities often associated with modernity.
Gendered Violence and Verse Citation in Richardson's Clarissa
Authors: Persons Annie
Published: August 2023

Abstract: This article analyzes the relationship between verse citation and gendered violence in Samuel Richardson's Clarissa (1747–48). While critics have shown the influence of women writers on Richardson's novels, none has observed the role of verse citation or the element of gendered violence connected discursively to that influence in Clarissa . Verse citation in Clarissa evidences both Clarissa 's ultimate agency and the role of women writers in shaping Richardson's novel and, perhaps, the development of the eighteenth-century novel. Simultaneously, verse citation in Clarissa suggests the degree to which that development may have naturalized violence against women and the appropriation of their writings.
Interruption and Stasis in Charlotte Smith's Beachy Head
Authors: Mann Annika
Published: August 2023

Abstract: This article suggests that Charlotte Smith's Beachy Head (1807) operates as a rejoinder to a larger medico-poetic discourse during the Romantic period, one that claimed poetry could move and thereby return its readers to health. Romantic-era poets and physicians regularly claimed that poetry can stimulate measured bodily motions, but the form and contents of Smith's poem are instead productive of interruption and stasis. Ruminating on the causes of rather than the cures for immobility, Smith's Beachy Head ultimately severs connections between poetry and healthfulness in favor of providing a record of chronic pain—of lives held in suspense.
Recent Studies in the Restoration and Eighteenth Century
Authors: Kaul Suvir
Published: August 2023

Abstract: An assessment of recent scholarly work treating the literature of the Restoration and Eighteenth Century and some general observations on the state of the profession. A full bibliography and price list of works received by SEL for consideration follow. Prices are those listed at the time books were received by SEL for review.
Reading in the Haitian Revolution: Toussaint L'Ouverture and Classical Education in Harriet Martineau's The Hour and the Man
Authors: Zhang Zeyi
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT: Harriet Martineau's historical novel, The Hour and the Man (1841), presents the intellectual development of Toussaint L'Ouverture through his reading of Western classical texts during the Haitian Revolution. By dramatizing Toussaint's reading and rereading, discussing and teaching of European classical and Christian texts at major turning points of the revolution, the novel highlights their liberating power in the contexts of slavery and emancipation. While the hero's close engagement with European textual culture has been criticized by both Victorian and post-colonial readers, this analysis argues that, far from repressing or betraying his people, Martineau's Toussaint interprets these texts with a free and independent mind that incorporates their original liberating power into the emancipation endeavor.
Theoretical and experimental study of optical diffractometry based on Fresnel diffraction from a transmission phase step
Authors: González Luis M. , Cywiak Moisés , Cywiak David
Published: August 2023

We present experiments to study the optical diffractometry of Fresnel diffraction from transmission phase steps under illuminating sources with distinct spatial profiles. The experimental results are extended analytically with the Fresnel Gaussian shape invariant introduced in previous publications to calculate the propagation of a coherent illuminating source through optical setups. We use a narrow coherent illuminating source to permit extending the applicability of the method for clinical purposes and perform calculations with illuminating sources with different spatial profiles, including a non-diffracting Airy beam, to allow for the establishment of general sensitivity formulae within the paraxial region.
Analysis of friction in quantitative micro-elastography
Authors: Metzner Kai L. , Fang Qi , Sanderson Rowan W. , Mowla Alireza , Kennedy Brendan F.
Published: August 2023

Quantitative micro-elastography (QME) is a compression-based optical coherence elastography technique capable of measuring the mechanical properties of tissue on the micro-scale. As QME requires contact between the imaging window and the sample, the presence of friction affects the accuracy of the estimated elasticity. In previous implementations, a lubricant was applied at the contact surfaces, which was assumed to result in negligible friction. However, recently, errors in the estimation of elasticity caused by friction have been reported. This effect has yet to be characterized and is, therefore, not well understood. In this work, we present a systematic analysis of friction in QME using silicone phantoms. We demonstrate that friction, and, therefore, the elasticity accuracy, is influenced by several experimental factors, including the viscosity of the lubricant, the mechanical contrast between the compliant layer and the sample, and the time after the application of a compressive strain. Elasticity errors over an order of magnitude were observed in the absence of appropriate lubrication when compared to uniaxial compression testing. Using an optimized lubrication protocol, we demonstrate accurate elasticity estimation (<10% error) for nonlinear elastic samples with Young’s moduli ranging from 3 kPa to 130 kPa. Finally, using a structured phantom, we demonstrate that friction can significantly reduce mechanical contrast in QME. We believe that the framework established in this study will facilitate more robust elasticity estimations in QME, as well as being readily adapted to understand the effects of friction in other contact elastography techniques.
Self-starting mode-locking in an all-PM Yb-doped fiber laser oscillator enabled by a 3x3 nonlinear optical lossy loop mirror
Authors: Pielach Mateusz , Jamrozik Agnieszka , Krupa Katarzyna , Stepanenko Yuriy
Published: August 2023

Artificial saturable absorbers based on loop mirrors often suffer from a not self-starting mode-locking operation. It is usually necessary to provide an additional phase shift in the loop, guaranteeing repeatable initiation of the pulsed regime. 3x3 even fiber couplers have recently enabled the introduction of a phase shift in an all-fiber loop mirror architecture. Until now, mode-locking induced by a 3x3 fiber coupler has been associated only with nonlinear amplifying loop mirrors. Here, we present a self-starting ultrafast dispersion-managed all-polarization-maintaining Yb-doped oscillator that utilizes a nonlinear optical lossy loop mirror instead. We show three ways of introducing asymmetric losses in a loop via a variable optical attenuator, a fiber coupler, and a very simple lossy splice. Complete characterization of all output ports of the oscillator proves significant spectral and temporal breathing of the pulse when circulating through the net normal dispersion cavity, which can deliver nJ-level pulse energy. The system guarantees excellent stability and performance comparable to nonlinear amplifying loop mirrors while being simpler, cheaper, and providing more usable output ports with different characteristics.
Improvement of terahertz beam modulation efficiency for baseless all-dielectric coded gratings
Authors: Jiang Jie , Fang Bo , Li Chenxia , Hong Zhi , Jing Xufeng
Published: August 2023

Optical metasurfaces are two-dimensional ultrathin devices based on single-layer or multilayer arrays of subwavelength nanostructures. They can achieve precise control of phase, amplitude, and polarization on the subwavelength scale. In this paper, a substrate-free all-silicon coded grating is designed, which can realize the phase control of the outgoing beam after the y-polarized plane wave is vertically incident on the metasurface at 0.1 THz. Through a single-layer silicon nanoarray structure, a low-reflection anomalous transmission metasurface is realized, and a variety of different beam deflectors are designed based on these encoded gratings. We propose a coded grating addition principle, which adds and subtracts two traditional coded grating sequences to obtain a new coded grating sequence. The encoded supergrating can flexibly control the scattering angle, and the designed substrate-free all-silicon encoded grating can achieve a deflection angle of 48.59°. In order to verify the principle of coded grating addition, we experimented with cascade operation of two coded sequence gratings to obtain the flexible control of the terahertz beam of the composite supergrating. The principle of grating addition provides a new degree of freedom for the flexible regulation of the terahertz wavefront. At the same time, this method can be extended to the optical band or microwave band, opening up new ways for electromagnetic wave manipulation and beam scanning.
Plasmonic vortex beam emitter
Authors: Zhang Zi-Wen , Lei Yu-Lu , Zhu Juan-Feng , Du Chao-Hai
Published: August 2023

Terahertz vortices prompt numerous advanced applications spanning classical and quantum communications, sensing, and chirality-based detection, owing to the inherent physical properties of terahertz waves and orbital angular momentum (OAM). Nonetheless, existing methodologies for generating terahertz vortices face challenges such as unalterable topological charges and intricate feed networks. To address these limitations, we propose a novel approach to generate multi-mode and tunable vortex beams based on chiral plasmons. Through eigenmode analysis, the uniform helical gratings are demonstrated to support chiral plasmons carrying OAM. By leveraging their vortex characteristics and introducing modulation into the periodic system, these chiral plasmons are alternatively diffracted into high-purity vortex radiations according to the Bragg law. To validate the theory, the vortex beam emitter is fabricated and measured in the microwave regime based on the modulated scheme. Experimental results confirm the emission of vortex beams with desirable phase distributions and radiation patterns. Our findings highlight the potential of chiral plasmons as seeds for tunable and compact vortex radiation, offering promising applications in tunable vortex sources.
FBXO7/ntc and USP30 antagonistically set the ubiquitination threshold for basal mitophagy and provide a target for Pink1 phosphorylation in vivo
Authors: Sanchez-Martinez Alvaro , Martinez Aitor , Whitworth Alexander J.
Published: August 2023

Functional analyses of genes linked to heritable forms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) have revealed fundamental insights into the biological processes underpinning pathogenic mechanisms. Mutations in PARK15/FBXO7 cause autosomal recessive PD and FBXO7 has been shown to regulate mitochondrial homeostasis. We investigated the extent to which FBXO7 and its Drosophila orthologue, ntc, share functional homology and explored its role in mitophagy in vivo. We show that ntc mutants partially phenocopy Pink1 and parkin mutants and ntc overexpression supresses parkin phenotypes. Furthermore, ntc can modulate basal mitophagy in a Pink1- and parkin-independent manner by promoting the ubiquitination of mitochondrial proteins, a mechanism that is opposed by the deubiquitinase USP30. This basal ubiquitination serves as the substrate for Pink1-mediated phosphorylation that triggers stress-induced mitophagy. We propose that FBXO7/ntc works in equilibrium with USP30 to provide a checkpoint for mitochondrial quality control in basal conditions in vivo and presents a new avenue for therapeutic approaches.
Physiological response of Symbiodiniaceae to thermal stress: Reactive oxygen species, photosynthesis, and relative cell size
Authors: Amario Michelle , Villela Lívia Bonetti , Jardim-Messeder Douglas , Silva-Lima Arthur Weiss , Rosado Phillipe Magalhães , de Moura Rodrigo Leão , Sachetto-Martins Gilberto , Chaloub Ricardo Moreira , Salomon Paulo Sergio
Published: August 2023

This study investigates the physiological response to heat stress of three genetically different Symbiodiniaceae strains isolated from the scleractinian coralMussismilia braziliensis, endemic of the Abrolhos Bank, Brazil. Cultures of twoSymbiodiniumsp. and oneCladocopiumsp. were exposed to a stepwise increase in temperature (2°C every second day) ranging from 26°C (modal temperature in Abrolhos) to 32°C (just above the maximum temperature registered in Abrolhos during the third global bleaching event—TGBE). After the cultures reached their final testing temperature, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, single cell attributes (relative cell size and chlorophyll fluorescence), and photosynthetic efficiency (effective (Y(II)) and maximum (Fv/Fm) quantum yields) were measured within 4 h and 72 h. Non-photochemical coefficient (NPQ) was estimated based on fluorescence values. Population average ROS production was variable across strains and exposure times, reaching up a 2-fold increase at 32°C in one of theSymbiodiniumsp. strains. A marked intrapopulation difference was observed in ROS production, with 5 to 25% of the cells producing up to 10 times more than the population average, highlighting the importance of single cell approaches to assess population physiology. Average cell size increases at higher temperatures, likely resulting from cell cycle arrest, whereas chlorophyll fluorescence decreased, especially in 4 h, indicating a photoacclimation response. The conditions tested do not seem to have elicited loss of photosynthetic efficiency nor the activation of non-photochemical mechanisms in the cells. Our results unveiled a generalized thermotolerance in three Symbiodiniaceae strains originated from Abrolhos’ corals. Inter and intra-specific variability could be detected, likely reflecting the genetic differences among the strains.
Impacts of environmental uncertainty on investment stocks perception under the holiday effect
Authors: Wei Shih-Yung , Lin Li-Wei
Published: August 2023

This study explored how the holiday effect impacts the fluctuations in various scale indexes. Using differential and double-difference methods, the researchers of this study analyzed the impact of the lockdown in Wuhan, China on the holiday effect during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research objects used in this study include CSI All Share, CNI1000, CNI 2000, CNI Large Cap., CNI Mid-Cap., and CNI Small Cap. This study found that on behalf of the Chinese market index and the large, medium, and small-scale index, stock volatility is evident on the next day following successive holidays. Meanwhile, greater volatility is observed in small stocks’ 4-day vacation (May 1, 11) than in a two-day vacation. The researchers discovered that the sealing effect causes investors to feel uncertain about the increased stock volatility. In terms of size, the net impact of the pandemic on the stock holiday effect is also greater for small stocks than for large stocks. This study’s main contribution is the GARCH+DID hybrid method.
Predictive value of α-synuclein expression in peripheral blood of multiple sclerosis patients: A two-dimensional assessment of a selected biomarker
Authors: Razia Rabat , Majeed Fazeel , Amin Rehab , Mukhtar Shahid , Mahmood Khalid , Abualait Turki , Bashir Shahid , Baig Deeba Noreen
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Our study aimed to evaluate whether assessing α-synuclein expression levels in blood samples could provide a reliable and straightforward alternative to existing diagnostic and prognostic methods for neurodegenerative disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS). We specifically investigated if α-synuclein and IL-6 expression levels from serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) could accurately predict MS severity in patients using a two-dimensional approach.

Methods

We designed a case-control study to analyze the expression of α-synuclein and IL-6 in the peripheral blood of an MS patient group (n = 51) and a control group (n = 51). We statistically evaluated the PBMCs and serum profiles of α-synuclein and IL-6 in MS patients, along with their age of onset, disease duration, tobacco exposure, and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, using SPSS V22.0 software and GraphPad Prism V9.0.

Results

Our findings indicate that α-synuclein production was significantly downregulated in MS patients. Principal component analysis also revealed distinct profiles between MS patients and controls. PBMCs and serum profiles of α-synuclein correlated with the EDSS score, suggesting that disease severity can be predicted using α-synuclein profiles. Moreover, α-synuclein showed a significant correlation with IL-6 and age of onset. Lastly, receiver operating characteristic curves of PBMCs and serum activity of α-synuclein profiles displayed discrimination with area under the curve values of 0.856 and 0.705, respectively.

Conclusion

Our results imply that measuring α-synuclein levels in both serum and PBMCs could be a valuable method for diagnosing and predicting MS severity, potentially serving as a non-invasive biomarker for the disease.
Ecological risk evaluation and sensitivity analysis of heavy metals on soil organisms under human activities in the Tibet Plateau, China
Authors: Zeng Xia , Deng Cai , Liang Ying , Fu Juanlin , Zhang Shaoxuan , Ni Tianhua
Published: August 2023

The Tibetan Plateau (TP), once considered a pristine environment, is now facing increased heavy metal pollution due to human activities, causing unprecedented ecological risks to soil organisms. However, little is known about the sensitivity and tolerance of different soil organisms to heavy metal toxicity in the high-altitude areas of the TP under the background of human activity intensity and future risk control priorities. In this study, we conducted an ecological risk assessment and threshold calculation for 10 heavy metals in soil for typical soil organisms, including Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Mn, Sb, and Sn, using the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) method in the zone between Ranwu town and Renlongba glacier on the TP. The results revealed that most sampling sites had average levels of Cd, Sb and Ni exceeding their regional soil environmental background values and were the major contaminants. Impressively, the hitherto undeveloped Renlungba Glacier showed relatively high contamination levels of Sb and Ni. From the view of sensitivity differences, the toxicity risks of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb were higher for terrestrial plants than for soil invertebrates based on the fitted heavy metal SSD curve trends. In terms of the ecological risk level, the average potentially affected fraction values of Zn and Ni reached 18.5% and 17.0%, respectively, with significant ecological risk at a few sampling sites. In terms of ecological risk thresholds, the Cd concentration at the 5% hazard concentration (HC5) control level was 0.05 mg/kg, which was the heavy metal with the highest risk in this study. Comparing the HC5 values of each heavy metal with the limit values in the current Chinese soil environmental quality standards, the existing administrative policies as a whole lack a powerful prevention of the potential ecological risk posed by heavy metals to soil organisms.
Experimental facility had a greater effect on growth performance, gut microbiome, and metabolome in weaned pigs than feeding diets containing subtherapeutic levels of antibiotics: A case study
Authors: Trudeau Michaela P. , Mosher Wes , Tran Huyen , de Rodas Brenda , Karnezos Theodore P. , Urriola Pedro E. , Gomez Andres , Saqui-Salces Milena , Chen Chi , Shurson Gerald C.
Published: August 2023

The objective of this study was to define changes in the intestinal metabolome and microbiome associated with growth performance of weaned pigs fed subtherapeutic concentrations of antibiotics. Three experiments with the same antibiotic treatments were conducted on the same research farm but in two different facilities (nursery and wean-finish) using pigs weaned at 20-days of age from the same source herd and genotype, and fed the same diets formulated without antibiotics (NC) or with 0.01% chlortetracycline and 0.01% sulfamethazine (AB). Pigs were weighed and feed disappearance was determined on days (d) 10, 21, and 42 post-weaning to calculate average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain:feed (G:F). On d 42, one pig/pen was selected for blood and ileal and cecal content collection. Targeted and untargeted metabolomic profiles were determined in serum and cecal contents using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and composition of bacterial communities in intestinal content samples was determined by sequencing the V4 region of the 16s rRNA gene. Metabolomics and microbiome data were analyzed using diverse multivariate and machine learning methods. Pigs fed AB had significantly greater (P< 0.05) overall ADG and ADFI compared with those fed NC, and pig body weight, ADG, and G:F were also significantly different (P< 0.05) between experiments. Differences (P< 0.05) in serum metabolome along with ileal and cecal microbiome beta diversity were observed between experiments, but there were no differences in microbiome alpha diversity between experiments or treatments. Bacteria from the families Clostridiaceae, Streptomycetaceae, Peptostreptomycetaceae, and Leuconostocaceae were significant biomarkers for the AB treatment. In addition, pigs fed AB had increased serum arginine, histidine, lysine, and phenylalanine concentrations compared with NC. Percentage error from a random forest analysis indicated that most of the variation (8% error) in the microbiome was explained by the facility where the experiments were conducted. These results indicate that facility had a greater effect on growth performance, metabolome, and microbiome responses than feeding diets containing subtherapeutic levels of antibiotics.
Benchmarking of novel green fluorescent proteins for the quantification of protein oligomerization in living cells
Authors: Petrich Annett , Aji Amit Koikkarah , Dunsing Valentin , Chiantia Salvatore
Published: August 2023

Protein-protein-interactions play an important role in many cellular functions. Quantitative non-invasive techniques are applied in living cells to evaluate such interactions, thereby providing a broader understanding of complex biological processes. Fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy describes a group of quantitative microscopy approaches for the characterization of molecular interactions at single cell resolution. Through the obtained molecular brightness, it is possible to determine the oligomeric state of proteins. This is usually achieved by fusing fluorescent proteins (FPs) to the protein of interest. Recently, the number of novel green FPs has increased, with consequent improvements to the quality of fluctuation-based measurements. The photophysical behavior of FPs is influenced by multiple factors (including photobleaching, protonation-induced “blinking” and long-lived dark states). Assessing these factors is critical for selecting the appropriate fluorescent tag for live cell imaging applications. In this work, we focus on novel green FPs that are extensively used in live cell imaging. A systematic performance comparison of several green FPs in living cells under different pH conditions using Number & Brightness (N&B) analysis and scanning fluorescence correlation spectroscopy was performed. Our results show that the new FP Gamillus exhibits higher brightness at the cost of lower photostability and fluorescence probability (pf), especially at lower pH. mGreenLantern, on the other hand, thanks to a very high pf, is best suited for multimerization quantification at neutral pH. At lower pH, mEGFP remains apparently the best choice for multimerization investigation. These guidelines provide the information needed to plan quantitative fluorescence microscopy involving these FPs, both for general imaging or for protein-protein-interactions quantification via fluorescence fluctuation-based methods.
Outer membrane protein N expressed in Gram-negative bacterial strain of Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) Omp8 Rosetta strains under osmoregulation by salts, sugars, and pHs
Authors: Chumjan Watcharin , Sangchalee Akira , Somwang Cholthicha , Mookda Nattida , Yaikeaw Sriwannee , Somsakeesit La-or
Published: August 2023

This study presented the expression of the outer membrane protein N in E. coli BL21 (DE3) Omp8 Rosetta under its growth condition and by osmoregulation. The effects of osmotic stress caused by salts, sugars, or pH values on the survival of the target Gram-negative bacterial strain of E. coli BL21 (DE3) Omp8 Rosetta and OmpN expression remain unknown. Here, tryptone yeast extract with varied salts and concentrations was initially used to generate an LB broth medium. To show how salts and concentration affect bacterial growth, the optical density at 600 nm was measured. The findings supported the hypothesis that salts and concentrations control bacterial growth. Moreover, a Western blotting study revealed that OmpN overexpression was present in all tested salts after stimulation with both glucose and fructose after being treated individually with anti-OmpN and anti-histidine tag polyclonal antibodies on transferred nitrocellulose membrane containing crude OmpN. Following the presence of the plasmid pET21b(+)/ompN-BOR into E. coli BL21 (DE3) Omp8 Rosetta, which was expressed in the recombinant OmpN protein (BOR), OmpN expression was demonstrated for all monovalent cations as well as MgCl2. All of the tested salts, except for BaCl2, NaH2PO4, and KH2PO4, showed overexpression of recombinant BOR after Isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) induction. Using CH3COONa, both with and without IPTG induction, there was very little bacterial growth and no OmpN expression. With NaCl, a pH value of 7 was suitable for bacterial development, whereas KCl required a pH value of 8. According to this research, bacterial growth in addition to salts, sugars, and pH values influences how the OmpN protein is produced.
Development and application of a qPCR-based genotyping assay for Ophidiomyces ophidiicola to investigate the epidemiology of ophidiomycosis
Authors: Haynes Ellen , Lorch Jeffrey , Allender Matthew C.
Published: August 2023

Ophidiomycosis (snake fungal disease) is an infectious disease caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola to which all snake species appear to be susceptible. Significant variation has been observed in clinical presentation, progression of disease, and response to treatment, which may be due to genetic variation in the causative agent. Recent phylogenetic analysis based on whole-genome sequencing identified that O. ophidiicola strains from the United States formed a clade distinct from European strains, and that multiple clonal lineages of the clade are present in the United States. The purpose of this study was to design a qPCR-based genotyping assay for O. ophidiicola, then apply that assay to swab-extracted DNA samples to investigate whether the multiple O. ophidiicola clades and clonal lineages in the United States have specific geographic, taxonomic, or temporal predilections. To this end, six full genome sequences of O. ophidiicola representing different clades and clonal lineages were aligned to identify genomic areas shared between subsets of the isolates. Eleven hydrolysis-based Taqman primer-probe sets were designed to amplify selected gene segments and produce unique amplification patterns for each isolate, each with a limit of detection of 10 or fewer copies of the target sequence and an amplification efficiency of 90–110%. The qPCR-based approach was validated using samples from strains known to belong to specific clades and applied to swab-extracted O. ophidiicola DNA samples from multiple snake species, states, and years. When compared to full-genome sequencing, the qPCR-based genotyping assay assigned 75% of samples to the same major clade (Cohen’s kappa = 0.360, 95% Confidence Interval = 0.154–0.567) with 67–77% sensitivity and 88–100% specificity, depending on clade/clonal lineage. Swab-extracted O. ophidiicola DNA samples from across the United States were assigned to six different clonal lineages, including four of the six established lineages and two newly defined groups, which likely represent recombinant strains of O. ophidiicola. Using multinomial logistic regression modeling to predict clade based on snake taxonomic group, state of origin, and year of collection, state was the most significant predictor of clonal lineage. Furthermore, clonal lineage was not associated with disease severity in the most intensely sampled species, the Lake Erie watersnake (Nerodia sipedon insularum). Overall, this assay represents a rapid, cost-effective genotyping method for O. ophidiicola that can be used to better understand the epidemiology of ophidiomycosis.
Plant medicine usage of people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Belize: A qualitative exploratory study
Authors: Allen Lindsay P. , Ellis Lucia , Engleton Christophe , Valerio Valerie Lynette , Hatala Andrew R.
Published: August 2023

Background

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a primary cause of death in Belize, a low-income country with the highest rates in Central and South America. As many people in Belize cannot consistently access biomedical treatment, a reality that was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, plant medicine usage is estimated to have increased in recent years. This exploratory study seeks to understand which plants are being used, patterns of usage, and the state of patient-provider communication around this phenomenon.

Methods

Implementing a Constructivist Grounded Theory qualitative design, the research team conducted 35 semi-structured interviews with adults living with T2DM, 25 informant discussions, and participant observation with field notes between February 2020 and September 2021. Data analysis followed systematized thematic coding procedures using Dedoose analytic software and iterative verification processes.

Results

The findings revealed that 85.7% of participants used plants in their T2DM self-management. There were three main usage patterns, namely, exclusive plant use (31.4%), complementary plant use (42.9%), and minimal plant use (11.4%), related to factors impacting pharmaceutical usage. Almost none of participants discussed their plant medicine usage with their health care providers.

Conclusions

Plant species are outlined, as are patients’ reasons for not disclosing usage to providers. There are implications for the advancement of understanding ethnobotanical medicine use for T2DM self-management and treatment in Belize and beyond.
A three evolutionary game model for driving mechanism of industry-university-research collaborative innovation in agricultural innovation ecosystems
Authors: Hou Xiaona , Gao Xiangxiao , Yin Shi , Li Jianmin
Published: August 2023

Based on the current state of China’s agricultural industry, this article proposes an integrated framework for the agricultural innovation ecosystem in developing countries. Furthermore, a dynamic simulation model is constructed to analyze the game process and factors influencing the agricultural innovation ecosystem. The results indicate that industry-university-research collaboration serves as the main source of innovation within the agricultural innovation ecosystem, playing a central role in its development. The willingness to participate, cost of participation, and establishment of default fees by governments, agro-related enterprises, universities, and research institutions have significant implications for the evolution of collaborative innovation within agricultural innovation ecosystems. In order to promote the evolution of the system, agriculture-related enterprises, universities, and research institutions should establish more effective reward and punishment mechanisms, as well as cost control mechanisms. Governments should set reasonable regulatory costs and incentive intervals to actively foster a collaborative innovation atmosphere. The innovation points of this paper are as follows: extending the theory of innovation ecosystems to agriculture, particularly in developing countries characterized by imbalanced and insufficient development. A game model is also constructed to represent the collaborative innovation evolution among government, agriculture-related enterprises, universities, and research institutions, with the government as the endogenous variable. Through numerical simulation, the dynamic evolution process of collaborative innovation within the agricultural innovation ecosystem is revealed. This research enriches and expands upon innovation ecosystem theory, providing guidance for the of innovation ecology in agriculture through mathematical models in developing countries. This, in turn, promotes the convergence of symbiotic, shared, and-creation development.
Vascular mechanisms leading to progression of mild cognitive impairment to dementia after COVID-19: Protocol and methodology of a prospective longitudinal observational study
Authors: Owens Cameron D. , Bonin Pinto Camila , Mukli Peter , Szarvas Zsofia , Peterfi Anna , Detwiler Sam , Olay Lauren , Olson Ann L. , Li Guangpu , Galvan Veronica , Kirkpatrick Angelia C. , Balasubramanian Priya , Tarantini Stefano , Csiszar Anna , Ungvari Zoltan , Prodan Calin I. , Yabluchanskiy Andriy
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a prodromal stage to dementia, affecting up to 20% of the aging population worldwide. Patients with MCI have an annual conversion rate to dementia of 15–20%. Thus, conditions that increase the conversion from MCI to dementia are of the utmost public health concern. The COVID-19 pandemic poses a significant impact on our aging population with cognitive decline as one of the leading complications following recovery from acute infection. Recent findings suggest that COVID-19 increases the conversion rate from MCI to dementia in older adults. Hence, we aim to uncover a mechanism for COVID-19 induced cognitive impairment and progression to dementia to pave the way for future therapeutic targets that may mitigate COVID-19 induced cognitive decline.

Methodology

A prospective longitudinal study is conducted at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Patients are screened in the Department of Neurology and must have a formal diagnosis of MCI, and MRI imaging prior to study enrollment. Patients who meet the inclusion criteria are enrolled and followed-up at 18-months after their first visit. Visit one and 18-month follow-up will include an integrated and cohesive battery of vascular and cognitive measurements, including peripheral endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation, laser speckle contrast imaging), retinal and cerebrovascular hemodynamics (dynamic vessel retinal analysis, functional near-infrared spectroscopy), and fluid and crystalized intelligence (NIH-Toolbox,n-back). Multiple logistic regression will be used for primary longitudinal data analysis to determine whether COVID-19 related impairment in neurovascular coupling and increases in white matter hyperintensity burden contribute to progression to dementia.
Rates and reasons for hospital readmission after acute ischemic stroke in a US population-based cohort
Authors: Zhou Lily W. , Lansberg Maarten G. , de Havenon Adam
Published: August 2023

Hospital readmissions following stroke are costly and lead to worsened patient outcomes. We examined readmissions rates, diagnoses at readmission, and risk factors associated with readmission following acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in a large United States (US) administrative database. Using the 2019 Nationwide Readmissions Database, we identified adults discharged with AIS (ICD-10-CM I63*) as the principal diagnosis. Survival analysis with Weibull accelerated failure time regression was used to examine variables associated with hospital readmission. In 2019, 273,811 of 285,451 AIS patients survived their initial hospitalization. Of these, 60,831 (22.2%) were readmitted within 2019. Based on Kaplan Meyer analysis, readmission rates were 9.7% within 30 days and 30.5% at 1 year following initial discharge. The most common causes of readmissions were stroke and post stroke sequalae (25.4% of 30-day readmissions, 15.0% of readmissions between 30–364 days), followed by sepsis (10.3% of 30-day readmissions, 9.4% of readmissions between 30–364 days), and acute renal failure (3.2% of 30-day readmissions, 3.0% of readmissions between 30–364 days). After adjusting for multiple patient and hospital-level characteristics, patients at increased risk of readmission were older (71.6 vs. 69.8 years, p<0.001) and had longer initial lengths of stay (7.6 vs. 6.2 day, p<0.001). They more often had modifiable comorbidities, including vascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation), depression, epilepsy, and drug abuse. Social determinants associated with increased readmission included living in an urban (vs. rural) setting, living in zip-codes with the lowest median income, and having Medicare insurance. All factors were significant at p<0.001. Unplanned hospital readmissions following AIS were high, with the most common reasons for readmission being recurrent stroke and post stroke sequalae, followed by sepsis and acute renal failure. These findings suggest that efforts to reduce readmissions should focus on optimizing secondary stroke and infection prevention, particularly among older socially disadvantaged patients.
Editorial
Authors: Miller Lee
Published: August 2023

This editorial is written by Lee Miller, one of Choreographic Practices’ editors (along with Dani Abulhawa, Amaara Raheem and Simon Ellis). Here, Lee discusses the idea of uncertainty and its potential as a tool for resistance. Reflecting on the submissions in this issue, Lee considers how uncertainty might be used within choreographic practices as a way to rethink what we believe to be true, or certain, about ourselves, bodies in movement and the world more broadly.