bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Walk on the wild side: SIV infection in African non-human primate hosts—from the field to the laboratory
Authors: Jasinska Anna J. , Apetrei Cristian , Pandrea Ivona
Published: January 2023

HIV emerged following cross-species transmissions of simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) that naturally infect non-human primates (NHPs) from Africa. While HIV replication and CD4+ T-cell depletion lead to increased gut permeability, microbial translocation, chronic immune activation, and systemic inflammation, the natural hosts of SIVs generally avoid these deleterious consequences when infected with their species-specific SIVs and do not progress to AIDS despite persistent lifelong high viremia due to long-term coevolution with their SIV pathogens. The benign course of natural SIV infection in the natural hosts is in stark contrast to the experimental SIV infection of Asian macaques, which progresses to simian AIDS. The mechanisms of non-pathogenic SIV infections are studied mainly in African green monkeys, sooty mangabeys, and mandrills, while progressing SIV infection is experimentally modeled in macaques: rhesus macaques, pigtailed macaques, and cynomolgus macaques. Here, we focus on the distinctive features of SIV infection in natural hosts, particularly (1): the superior healing properties of the intestinal mucosa, which enable them to maintain the integrity of the gut barrier and prevent microbial translocation, thus avoiding excessive/pathologic immune activation and inflammation usually perpetrated by the leaking of the microbial products into the circulation; (2) the gut microbiome, the disruption of which is an important factor in some inflammatory diseases, yet not completely understood in the course of lentiviral infection; (3) cell population shifts resulting in target cell restriction (downregulation of CD4 or CCR5 surface molecules that bind to SIV), control of viral replication in the lymph nodes (expansion of natural killer cells), and anti-inflammatory effects in the gut (NKG2a/c+ CD8+ T cells); and (4) the genes and biological pathways that can shape genetic adaptations to viral pathogens and are associated with the non-pathogenic outcome of the natural SIV infection. Deciphering the protective mechanisms against SIV disease progression to immunodeficiency, which have been established through long-term coevolution between the natural hosts and their species-specific SIVs, may prompt the development of novel therapeutic interventions, such as drugs that can control gut inflammation, enhance gut healing capacities, or modulate the gut microbiome. These developments can go beyond HIV infection and open up large avenues for correcting gut damage, which is common in many diseases.
The American Lobster Settlement Index: History, lessons, and future of a long-term, transboundary monitoring collaborative
Authors: McManus M. Conor , Brady Damian C. , Brown Curtis , Carloni Joshua T. , Giffin Melanie , Goode Andrew G. , Kleman Kristyn , Lawton Peter , Le Bris Arnault , Olszewski Scott , Perry Derek N. , Rochette Rémy , Shank Burton V. , Wilson Carl M. , Wahle Richard A.
Published: January 2023

Understanding the processes that influence recruitment variability in marine populations has been a long-standing challenge for resource management. Quantifying abundance at early life stages for marine fish and invertebrates with complex life histories can be difficult and require unconventional sampling approaches. However, the benefit of developing appropriate tools to sample early life stages is that, together with associated demographic and environmental information, the data can provide insights into the causes and consequences of recruitment variability, allowing prediction of older life stage abundance. Before the 1980s, the earliest benthic life stages of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) eluded quantitative field surveys. With the development of diver-based and vessel-deployed sampling methods over the past three decades, the American Lobster Settlement Index (ALSI) program has expanded into a regional, transboundary commitment to better understand lobster settlement processes and forecast future fishery trends for what has become the most valuable single-species fishery in North America. In this context, “settlement” is a shorthand for the annual recruitment of young-of-year lobster to coastal nurseries, as postlarvae settle to the seabed at the end of larval development. Here, we review the development and products of the ALSI program, first outlining the goals, methods, and data products of the program. We then highlight how the program has advanced the scientific knowledge on pre- and post-settlement processes that influence the fate of a cohort from egg hatch to harvest, which provides insight into the spawner-recruit relationship. Lastly, we provide guidance for future research recommendations building on the ALSI science to-date, some major elements of the program that have allowed for its success, and considerations for maintaining the ALSI program. By highlighting the uniqueness and contributions of the ALSI program, we hope it serves as a model for other scientists, managers, and industry collaborators aiming to understand recruitment processes for species over a broad geographic area.
Dislocation-related leakage-current paths of 4H silicon carbide
Authors: Gao Wandong , Yang Guang , Qian Yixiao , Han Xuefeng , Cui Can , Pi Xiaodong , Yang Deren , Wang Rong
Published: January 2023

Improving the quality of 4H silicon carbide (4H-SiC) epitaxial layers to reduce the leakage current of 4H-SiC based high-power devices is a long-standing issue in the development of 4H-SiC homoepitaxy. In this work, we compare the effect of different type of dislocations, and discriminate the effect of dislocation lines and dislocation-related pits on the leakage current of 4H-SiC by combining molten-KOH etching and the tunneling atomic force microscopy (TUNA) measurements. It is found that both the dislocation lines of threading dislocations (TDs) and the TD-related pits increase the reverse leakage current of 4H-SiC. The dislocation lines of TDs exert more significant effect on the reverse leakage current of 4H-SiC, which gives rise to the nonuniform distribution of reverse leakage current throughout the TD-related pits. Due to the different Burgers vectors of TDs, the effect of TDs on the reverse leakage current of 4H-SiC increases in the order to threading edge dislocation (TED), threading screw dislocation (TSD) and threading mixed dislocation (TMD). Basal plane dislocations (BPDs) are also found to slightly increase the reverse leakage current, with the leakage current mainly concentrated at the core of the BPD. Compared to the effect of TDs, the effect of BPDs on the reverse leakage current of 4H-SiC is negligible. Our work indicates that reducing the density of TDs, especially TMDs and TSDs, is key to improve the quality of 4H-SiC epitaxial layers and reduce the reverse leakage current of 4H-SiC based high -power devices.
The analgesic effect of lumbar sympathetic ganglion block in patients with failed back surgery syndrome
Authors: Lee Jin Young , Sim Woo Seog , Kim Jiyoung , Yang Sungwon , Ro Hojun , Kim Chang Jae , Kim Sung Un , Park Hue Jung
Published: January 2023

Background

Persistent or recurrent lumbosacral pain is a common symptom after spinal surgery. Several interventions have been introduced for failed back surgery syndrome; however, their clinical efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness are insufficient. Sympathetic ganglion block has been selected for pain associated with the sympathetic nervous system. In this study, we compared pain and quality of life in patients with failed back surgery syndrome who responded and did not respond to lumbar sympathetic ganglion block.

Methods

We included 84 patients diagnosed with failed back surgery syndrome who had lumbosacral pain and underwent lumbar sympathetic ganglion block between January 2020 and April 2021. The patients’ data were retrospectively analyzed; clinical outcomes were assessed before (T0), 1 week after (T1), and 4 weeks after (T4) lumbar sympathetic ganglion block. Based on the pain difference from T0 to T1, we categorized patients into two groups: patients with ≥ 50% pain reduction (responder group) and patients with < 50% pain reduction (non-responder group). Demographic, clinical, surgical, and fluoroscopic data were evaluated and compared. The primary outcome was pain scores and the EuroQol-5D score from T0 to T4.

Results

Among the 84 patients analyzed, 41 (48.8%) experienced ≥ 50% pain reduction at 1 week after lumbar sympathetic ganglion block. Lumbar sympathetic ganglion block significantly improved pain at T1 and T4 compared to T0 in both groups. Lumbar sympathetic ganglion block improved the EuroQol-5D score at T1 compared to T0 in the responder group. The responder group had a significant decrease in pain at T1 from T0 and T4 from T0 and a significant decrease in the EuroQol-5D score at T1 from T0 compared with the non-responder group. Coldness of the leg over time did not differ between the groups. No serious adverse events occurred in either of the groups.

Conclusion

Lumbar sympathetic ganglion block may improve pain at 1 and 4 weeks in patients with failed back surgery syndrome. Patients with ≥ 50% pain reduction at 1 week showed simultaneous improvement in quality of life and pain reduction at 4 weeks.

Clinical trial registration

https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/index/index.do, identifier KCT0007236.
Application of spectral image processing with different dimensions combined with large-screen visualization in the identification of boletes species
Authors: Li Jie-Qing , Wang Yuan-Zhong , Liu Hong-Gao
Published: January 2023

Boletes are favored by consumers because of their unique flavor, rich nutrition and delicious taste. However, the different nutritional values of each species lead to obvious price differences, so shoddy products appear on the market, which affects food safety. The aim of this study was to find a rapid and effective method for boletes species identification. In this paper, 1,707 samples of eight boletes species were selected as the research objects. The original Mid-Infrared (MIR) spectroscopy data were adopted for support vector machine (SVM) modeling. The 11,949 spectral images belong to seven data sets such as two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2DCOS) and three-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (3DCOS) were used to carry out Alexnet and Residual network (Resnet) modeling, thus we established 15 models for the identification of boletes species. The results show that the SVM method needs to process complex feature data, the time cost is more than 11 times of other models, and the accuracy is not high enough, so it is not recommended to be used in data processing with large sample size. From the perspective of datasets, synchronous 2DCOS and synchronous 3DCOS have the best modeling results, while one-dimensional (1D) MIR Spectrum dataset has the worst modeling results. After comprehensive analysis, the modeling effect of Resnet on the synchronous 2DCOS dataset is the best. Moreover, we use large-screen visualization technology to visually display the sample information of this research and obtain their distribution rules in terms of species and geographical location. This research shows that deep learning combined with 2DCOS and 3DCOS spectral images can effectively and accurately identify boletes species, which provides a reference for the identification of other fields, such as food and Chinese herbal medicine.
An overview of experimental simulations of microbial activity in early Earth
Authors: Zhao Mingyu , Zhao Yao , Lin Wei , Xiao Ke-Qing
Published: January 2023

Microbial activity has shaped the evolution of the ocean and atmosphere throughout the Earth history. Thus, experimental simulations of microbial metabolism under the environment conditions of the early Earth can provide vital information regarding biogeochemical cycles and the interaction and coevolution between life and environment, with important implications for extraterrestrial exploration. In this review, we discuss the current scope and knowledge of experimental simulations of microbial activity in environments representative of those of early Earth, with perspectives on future studies. Inclusive experimental simulations involving multiple species, and cultivation experiments with more constraints on environmental conditions similar to early Earth would significantly advance our understanding of the biogeochemical cycles of the geological past.
Stochastic processes dominate community assembly of ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with Picea crassifolia in the Helan Mountains, China
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Wang Yonglong , Xu Ying , Babalola Busayo Joshua , Xiang Simin , Ma Jianjun , Su Yun , Fan Yongjun
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Understanding the underlying mechanisms of microbial community assembly is a fundamental topic in microbial ecology. As an integral part of soil organisms, ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi play vital roles in ecosystems. Picea crassifolia is an important pine species in the Helan Mountains in Inner Mongolia, China, with high ecological and economic values. However, studies of EM fungal diversity and mechanisms underlying community assembly on this pine species are limited.

Methods

In this study, we investigated EM fungal communities associated with P. crassifolia from 45 root samples across three sites in the Helan Mountains using Illumina Miseq sequencing of the fungal rDNA ITS2 region.

Results

A total of 166 EM fungal OTUs belonging to 24 lineages were identified, of which Sebacina and Tomentella-Thelephora were the most dominant lineages. Ordination analysis revealed that EM fungal communities were significantly different among the three sites. Site/fungus preference analysis showed that some abundant EM fungal OTUs preferred specific sites. Ecological process analysis implied that dispersal limitation and ecological drift in stochastic processes dominantly determined the community assembly of EM fungi.

Discussion

Our study indicates that P. crassifolia harbors a high EM fungal diversity and highlights the important role of the stochastic process in driving community assembly of mutualistic fungi associated with a single plant species in a semi-arid forest in northwest China.
A versatile integrated tube for rapid and visual SARS-CoV-2 detection
Authors: Xu Jingsong , Wang Xi , Yang Shuang , He Lei , Wang Yuting , Li Jiajun , Liu Qian , Li Min , Wang Hua
Published: January 2023

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by novel severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been rapidly spreading worldwide. Rapid and widespread testing is essential to promote early intervention and curb the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Current gold standard reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for detecting SARS-CoV-2 is restricted to professional laboratories and well-trained personnel, thus, limiting its widespread use in resource-limited conditions. To overcome these challenges, we developed a rapid and convenient assay using a versatile integrated tube for the rapid and visual detection of SARS-CoV-2. The reaction conditions of the method were optimized using SARS-CoV-2 RNA standards and the sensitivity and specificity were further determined. Finally, it was verified on clinical specimens. The assay was completed within 40 min, and the result was visible by the naked eye. The limits of detection (LODs) for the target ORF1ab and N genes were 50 copies/μl. No cross-reactivity was observed with the RNA standard samples of four respiratory viruses or clinical samples of common respiratory viral infections. Ninety SARS-CoV-2 positive and 30 SARS-CoV-2 negative patient specimens were analyzed. We compared these results to both prior and concurrent RT-PCR evaluations. As a result, the overall sensitivity and specificity for detection SARS-CoV-2 were 94.5 and 100.0%, respectively.

Conclusion

The integrated tube assay has the potential to provide a simple, specific, sensitive, one-pot, and single-step assay for SARS-CoV-2.
Composition analysis and prebiotics properties of polysaccharides extracted from Lepista sordida submerged cultivation mycelium
Authors: Wang Lanying , Lian Junhui , Zheng Qinhua , Wang Liang , Wang Yanzhen , Yang Dongsheng
Published: January 2023

In this paper, Lepista sordida polysaccharides (LSP) were separated from Lepista sordida (L. sordida) mainly using the Ultrasonic-Micro Wave Synergy Extraction (UMSE) method and purified by graded alcohol precipitation. Three polysaccharide components: 40%-LSP-UMSE, 60%-LSP-UMSE, and 80%-LSP-UMSE were obtained and further analyzed the physicochemical properties, structural characteristics, and antioxidant activity. And the effects on the proliferation of Lactobacillus casei of three polysaccharide components were studied. The characteristic absorption peaks and the β-glycosidic bond of three polysaccharide components were the direct expression at UV 200 nm using UV and FT-IR spectroscopy. The three polysaccharide components were mainly composed of glucose, mannose, galactose, and ribose using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The antioxidant activity study revealed that the polysaccharides obtained by the UMSE method had better antioxidant activity compared to the traditional “Hot Water Extraction (HWE)” method. In addition, the polysaccharide components promoted the proliferation of L. casei to some extent. 40%-LSP-UMSE, 80%-LSP-UMSE as the carbon source had better acid production than the control inulin. Three LSP-UMSE used as a carbon source compared with glucose for culturing L. casei could significantly improve its tolerance to bile salts. Results are helpful to develop the bioactive polysaccharides from Lepista sordida and beneficial to develop a unique health and functional product in the future.
Lactic acid bacteria in cow raw milk for cheese production: Which and how many?
Authors: Bettera Luca , Levante Alessia , Bancalari Elena , Bottari Benedetta , Gatti Monica
Published: January 2023

Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) exert a fundamental activity in cheese production, as starter LAB in curd acidification, or non-starter LAB (NSLAB) during ripening, in particular in flavor formation. NSLAB originate from the farm and dairy environment, becoming natural contaminants of raw milk where they are present in very low concentrations. Afterward, throughout the different cheesemaking processes, they withstand chemical and physical stresses becoming dominant in ripened cheeses. However, despite a great body of knowledge is available in the literature about NSLAB effect on cheese ripening, the investigations regarding their presence and abundance in raw milk are still poor. With the aim to answer the initial question: “which and how many LAB are present in cow raw milk used for cheese production?,” this review has been divided in two main parts. The first one gives an overview of LAB presence in the complex microbiota of raw milk through the meta-analysis of recent taxonomic studies. In the second part, we present a collection of data about LAB quantification in raw milk by culture-dependent analysis, retrieved through a systematic review. Essentially, the revision of data obtained by plate counts on selective agar media showed an average higher concentration of coccoid LAB than lactobacilli, which was found to be consistent with meta-taxonomic analysis. The advantages of the impedometric technique applied to the quantification of LAB in raw milk were also briefly discussed with a focus on the statistical significance of the obtainable data. Furthermore, this approach was also found to be more accurate in highlighting that microorganisms other than LAB are the major component of raw milk. Nevertheless, the variability of the results observed in the studies based on the same counting methodology, highlights that different sampling methods, as well as the “history” of milk before analysis, are variables of great importance that need to be considered in raw milk analysis.
Association of inflammatory bowel disease and related medication exposure with risk of Alzheimer's disease: An updated meta-analysis
Authors: Xing Yinghao , Li Pei , Jia Yuanyuan , Zhang Kexin , Liu Ming , Jiang Jingjing
Published: January 2023

Background

Chronic systemic inflammation may be associated with neurocognitive decline, but the relationships between inflammatory bowel disease and related medications and the risk of Alzheimer's disease remain unclear.

Methods

We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the associations of ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and related medications with risk of Alzheimer's disease. We identified cohort and case-control studies by searching PubMed, Embase and Web of Science up to August 2022.

Results

Seven eligible studies with 20,174 cases of Alzheimer's disease were included in the meta-analysis. Six studies reported the association between ulcerative colitis and risk of Alzheimer's disease; five studies reported the association between Crohn's disease and risk of Alzheimer's disease. Meta-analysis combining these studies did not reveal any significant association of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease with risk of Alzheimer's disease. The pooled relative risks were 1.16 (95%CI: 0.96, 1.41) and 1.17 (95%CI: 0.84, 1.62) for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, respectively. High heterogeneity was detected across the studies. Of note, there was an inverse association between inflammatory bowel disease related medication exposure and risk of Alzheimer's disease. The pooled relative risk of three studies for Alzheimer's disease was 0.86 (95%CI: 0.75, 0.99). No publication bias was detected.

Conclusion

This study does not support the association of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease with the risk of Alzheimer's disease. However, medications for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease might be associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Asymptomatic carotid stenosis is associated with both edge and network reconfigurations identified by single-subject cortical thickness networks
Authors: Ren Jinxia , Xu Dan , Mei Hao , Zhong Xiaoli , Yu Minhua , Ma Jiaojiao , Fan Chenhong , Lv Jinfeng , Xiao Yaqiong , Gao Lei , Xu Haibo
Published: January 2023

Background and purpose

Patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis, even without stroke, are at high risk for cognitive impairment, and the neuroanatomical basis remains unclear. Using a novel edge-centric structural connectivity (eSC) analysis from individualized single-subject cortical thickness networks, we aimed to examine eSC and network measures in severe (> 70%) asymptomatic carotid stenosis (SACS).

Methods

Twenty-four SACS patients and 24 demographically- and comorbidities-matched controls were included, and structural MRI and multidomain cognitive data were acquired. Individual eSC was estimated via the Manhattan distances of pairwise cortical thickness histograms.

Results

In the eSC analysis, SACS patients showed longer interhemispheric but shorter intrahemispheric Manhattan distances seeding from left lateral temporal regions; in network analysis the SACS patients had a decreased system segregation paralleling with white matter hyperintensity burden and recall memory. Further network-based statistic analysis identified several eSC and subgraph features centred around the Perisylvian regions that predicted silent lesion load and cognitive tests.

Conclusion

We conclude that SACS exhibits abnormal eSC and a less-optimized trade-off between physical cost and network segregation, providing a reference and perspective for identifying high-risk individuals.
Effect of Electro-Acupuncture on Lateralization of the Human Swallowing Motor Cortex Excitability by Navigation-Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation-Electromyography
Authors: Tang Xiaorong , Xu Mindong , Zhao Jiayi , Shi Jiahui , Zi Yingyu , Wu Jianlu , Xu Jing , Yu Yanling , Yao LuLu , Ou Jiayin , Li Yitong , Yao Shuqi , Lv Hang , Lu Liming , Xu Nenggui , Wang Lin
Published: January 2023

Graphical Abstract

Schematic diagram of research.
Development and validation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor measurement in human urine samples as a non-invasive effect biomarker
Authors: Olivas-Martinez Alicia , Suarez Beatriz , Salamanca-Fernandez Elena , Reina-Perez Iris , Rodriguez-Carrillo Andrea , Mustieles Vicente , Olea Nicolás , Freire Carmen , Fernández Mariana F.
Published: January 2023

Background

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neurotrophic growth factor mainly expressed in the brain, has been proposed as a potential effect biomarker; that is, as a measurable biomarker whose values could be associated with several diseases, including neurological impairments. The European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) has also recognized effect biomarkers as a useful tool for establishing link between exposure to environmental pollutants and human health. Despite the well-establish protocol for measuring serum BDNF, there is a need to validate its assessment in urine, a non-invasive sample that can be easily repeated over time. The aim of this study was to develop, standardize and validate a methodology to quantify BDNF protein levels in urine samples before its implementation in biomonitoring studies.

Methods

Different experimental conditions and non-competitive commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were tested to determine the optimal analytical procedure, trying to minimize the shortcomings of ELISA kits. The fine-tune protocol was validated in a pilot study using both upon awakening (n = 150) and prior to sleeping (n = 106) urine samples from the same Spanish adolescent males in a well-characterized study population (the Spanish INMA-Granada cohort).

Results

The best results were obtained in 0.6 ml of urine after the acidification and extraction (pre-concentration) of samples. The highest reproducibility was obtained with the ELISA kit from Raybiotech. Urinary BDNF concentrations of adolescent males were within the previously reported range (morning = 0.047–6.801 ng/ml and night = 0.047–7.404 ng/ml). Urinary BDNF levels in the awakening and pre-sleep samples did not follow a normal distribution and were not correlated.

Conclusion

The developed methodology offers good sensitivity and reproducibility. Having reliable markers in urine may facilitate both diagnosis and monitoring possible diseases (and treatment). Further studies are needed to implement urinary BDNF in biomonitoring studies to further elucidate its usefulness and biological significance for neurological impairments.
The Neuron Navigators: Structure, function, and evolutionary history
Authors: Powers Regina M. , Hevner Robert F. , Halpain Shelley
Published: January 2023

Neuron navigators (Navigators) are cytoskeletal-associated proteins important for neuron migration, neurite growth, and axon guidance, but they also function more widely in other tissues. Recent studies have revealed novel cellular functions of Navigators such as macropinocytosis, and have implicated Navigators in human disorders of axon growth. Navigators are present in most or all bilaterian animals: vertebrates have three Navigators (NAV1-3), Drosophila has one (Sickie), and Caenorhabditis elegans has one (Unc-53). Structurally, Navigators have conserved N- and C-terminal regions each containing specific domains. The N-terminal region contains a calponin homology (CH) domain and one or more SxIP motifs, thought to interact with the actin cytoskeleton and mediate localization to microtubule plus-end binding proteins, respectively. The C-terminal region contains two coiled-coil domains, followed by a AAA+ family nucleoside triphosphatase domain of unknown activity. The Navigators appear to have evolved by fusion of N- and C-terminal region homologs present in simpler organisms. Overall, Navigators participate in the cytoskeletal response to extracellular cues via microtubules and actin filaments, in conjunction with membrane trafficking. We propose that uptake of fluid-phase cues and nutrients and/or downregulation of cell surface receptors could represent general mechanisms that explain Navigator functions. Future studies developing new models, such as conditional knockout mice or human cerebral organoids may reveal new insights into Navigator function. Importantly, further biochemical studies are needed to define the activities of the Navigator AAA+ domain, and to study potential interactions among different Navigators and their binding partners.
Automatic polyp image segmentation and cancer prediction based on deep learning
Authors: Shen Tongping , Li Xueguang
Published: January 2023

The similar shape and texture of colonic polyps and normal mucosal tissues lead to low accuracy of medical image segmentation algorithms. To solve these problems, we proposed a polyp image segmentation algorithm based on deep learning technology, which combines a HarDNet module, attention module, and multi-scale coding module with the U-Net network as the basic framework, including two stages of coding and decoding. In the encoder stage, HarDNet68 is used as the main backbone network to extract features using four null space convolutional pooling pyramids while improving the inference speed and computational efficiency; the attention mechanism module is added to the encoding and decoding network; then the model can learn the global and local feature information of the polyp image, thus having the ability to process information in both spatial and channel dimensions, to solve the problem of information loss in the encoding stage of the network and improving the performance of the segmentation network. Through comparative analysis with other algorithms, we can find that the network of this paper has a certain degree of improvement in segmentation accuracy and operation speed, which can effectively assist physicians in removing abnormal colorectal tissues and thus reduce the probability of polyp cancer, and improve the survival rate and quality of life of patients. Also, it has good generalization ability, which can provide technical support and prevention for colon cancer.
Recent advances of tanshinone in regulating autophagy for medicinal research
Authors: Wu Sha , Zhao Kui , Wang Jie , Liu Nannan , Nie Kaidi , Qi Luming , Xia Lina
Published: January 2023

Initially described as an ancient and highly conserved catabolic biofunction, autophagy plays a significant role in disease pathogenesis and progression. As the bioactive ingredient of Salvia miltiorrhiza, tanshinone has recently shown profound effects in alleviating and treating various diseases by regulating autophagy. However, compared to the remarkable achievements in the known pharmacological effects of this traditional Chinese medicine, there is a lack of a concise and comprehensive review deciphering the mechanism by which tanshinone regulates autophagy for medicinal research. In this context, we concisely review the advances of tanshinone in regulating autophagy for medicinal research, including human cancer, the nervous system, and cardiovascular diseases. The pharmacological effects of tanshinone targeting autophagy involve the regulation of autophagy-related proteins, such as Beclin-1, LC3-II, P62, ULK1, Bax, ATG3, ATG5, ATG7, ATG9, and ATG12; the regulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MEK/ERK/mTOR, Beclin-1-related, and AMPK-related signaling pathways; the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS); and the activation of AMPK. Notably, we found that tanshinone played a dual role in human cancers in an autophagic manner, which may provide a new avenue for potential clinical application. In brief, these findings on autophagic tanshinone and its derivatives provide a new clue for expediting medicinal research related to tanshinone compounds and autophagy.
Association between glucocorticoid use and all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with heart failure: A cohort study based on the MIMIC-III database
Authors: Zhu Jia-Liang , Hong Liang , Yuan Shi-Qi , Xu Xiao-Mei , Wei Jian-Rui , Yin Hai-Yan
Published: January 2023

Background: Heart failure (HF) is the terminal stage of various heart diseases. Conventional treatments have poor efficacy, and diuretic resistance can present. Previous studies have found that the use of glucocorticoids can enhance the diuretic effect of patients with heart failure and reduce heart failure symptoms. However, the relationship between glucocorticoid use and mortality in patients with heart failure in intensive care units is unclear.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the association between glucocorticoid use and all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with heart failure. Methods: The information on patients with heart failure in this study was extracted from the MIMIC-III (Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-III) database. Patients in the glucocorticoid and non-glucocorticoid groups were matched using propensity scores. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to explore the difference in survival probability between the two groups. A Cox proportional-hazards regression model was used to analyze the hazard ratios (HRs) for the two patient groups. Subgroup analyses were performed with prespecified stratification variables to demonstrate the robustness of the results.

Results: The study included 9,482 patients: 2,099 in the glucocorticoid group and 7,383 in the non-glucocorticoid group. There were 2,055 patients in each group after propensity-score matching. The results indicated that the non-glucocorticoid group was not significantly associated with reduced mortality in patients with heart failure during the 14-day follow-up period [HRs = .901, 95% confidence interval (CI) = .767–1.059]. During the follow-up periods of 15–30 and 15–90 days, the mortality risk was significantly lower in the non-glucocorticoid group than in the glucocorticoid group (HRs = .497 and 95% CI = .370–.668, and HRs = .400 and 95% CI = .310–.517, respectively). Subgroup analyses indicated no interaction among each stratification variable and glucocorticoid use.

Conclusion: Glucocorticoid use was associated with an increased mortality risk in critically ill patients with heart failure.
Treatment attrition rates and relevant risk factors in multiple myeloma: A real-world study in China
Authors: Tang Wenjiao , Yang Jinrong , Li Yan , Zhang Li , Li He , Wang Jie , Liao Yi , Zhang Chunlan , Qu Ying , Zheng Yuhuan , Niu Ting
Published: January 2023

Background: For multiple myeloma (MM), the proportions of patients reaching the subsequent line of therapy (LOT) decline gradually and real-world data describing the attrition rates of LOT in Chinese MM were limited. Herein, we investigated the attrition rates by subsequent LOTs and their relevant risk factors in MM patients in China.

Methods: MM patients who had been hospitalized and received at least one LOT from January 2008 to August 2019 in West China Hospital Sichuan University were retrospectively recruited. Demographic and clinical characteristic data were obtained from the “HemaTank” Chinese Multiple Myeloma Database. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was applied to analyze the risk factors of frontline treatment attrition.

Results: A total of 1,255 newly diagnosed MM were enrolled, with 573 (45.7%) patients receiving only one LOT and 682 (54.3%) patients receiving more than one LOT. Thalidomide with dexamethasone/prednisone was the most common frontline treatment before 2017, while bortezomib-based regimens constituted the majority of frontline treatment in 2017 and beyond. The attrition rates from the first to the fifth LOT exhibited a gradual upward trend (45.7%, 48.7%, 58.9% and 62.5%, respectively). Meanwhile, 54.3%, 27.9%, 11.5%, and 4.3% of all the enrolled MM patients received a second, third, fourth and fifth LOT. MM who underwent autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) showed lower attrition rates across all LOTs (range 12%–56.8%) than MM without ASCT (range 49.1%–64.5%). The multivariate Cox regression model revealed that ISS stage III (HR 2.07, p < .001), elevated LDH (HR 1.47, p = .006), and comorbidities such as amyloidosis (HR 1.63, p = 0 .01), hepatic disease (HR 1.36, p = .022), pulmonary disease (HR 1.38, p = .022), and cardiac disease (HR 1.62, p = .004) were independent risk factors for MM patients attritted from the frontline treatment.

Conclusion: In this study, the attrition rates were generally high and increased gradually across all LOTs. Nearly half of MM patients received only one LOT, and higher tumor burden and more comorbidities may be associated with fewer subsequent LOTs. The high attrition rates highlight the importance of applying the most optimal frontline treatment regimen rather than salvaging subsequent LOTs.
Study on the quenching depth and surface hardness of metal materials by laser quenching variable parameters
Authors: Ren Dongdong , Zhang Pengjun , Yu Jiahui , Yao Yangwu , Li Xiaoyang
Published: January 2023

Laser quenching is one of the most outstanding gear tooth surface quenching methods due to its high efficiency, environmental friendliness, and performance consistency. Since gear tooth surface laser quenching requires repeated scanning, changing the laser scanning velocity and power by program control can meet the needs of variable depth quenching. The effects of laser scanning velocity and output power on the quenching depth and surface Rockwell hardness after quenching were studied and experimentally analyzed. The result shows that by adjusting the parameters, the surface hardness of the specimen changes slightly with the actual received laser energy. However, the quenching depth can be consistent with the laser scanning velocity. The maximum surface Rockwell hardness that a laser quenched material can achieve depends on the material itself, not on the laser power or scanning velocity. Compared with accelerated laser quenching, decelerated laser quenching is more suitable for tooth surface machining due to the cumulative effect of energy within the quenching depth range of metal materials.
Electrophysiological and histological characterization of atrial scarring in a model of isolated atrial myocardial infarction
Authors: Amorós-Figueras Gerard , Casabella-Ramon Sergi , Company-Se Georgina , Arzamendi Dabit , Jorge Esther , Garcia-Osuna Alvaro , Macías Yolanda , Sánchez-Quintana Damián , Rosell-Ferrer Javier , Guerra José M. , Cinca Juan
Published: January 2023

Background: Characterization of atrial myocardial infarction is hampered by the frequent concurrence of ventricular infarction. Theoretically, atrial infarct scarring could be recognized by multifrequency tissue impedance, like in ventricular infarction, but this remains to be proven.

Objective: This study aimed at developing a model of atrial infarction to assess the potential of multifrequency impedance to recognize areas of atrial infarct scar. Methods: Seven anesthetized pigs were submitted to transcatheter occlusion of atrial coronary branches arising from the left coronary circumflex artery. Six weeks later the animals were anesthetized and underwent atrial voltage mapping and multifrequency impedance recordings. The hearts were thereafter extracted for anatomopathological study. Two additional pigs not submitted to atrial branch occlusion were used as controls.

Results: Selective occlusion of the atrial branches induced areas of healed infarction in the left atrium in 6 of the 7 cases. Endocardial mapping of the left atrium showed reduced multi-frequency impedance (Phase angle at 307 kHz: from −17.1° ± 5.0° to −8.9° ± 2.6°, p < .01) and low-voltage of bipolar electrograms (.2 ± 0.1 mV vs. 1.9 ± 1.5 mV vs., p < .01) in areas affected by the infarction. Data variability of the impedance phase angle was lower than that of bipolar voltage (coefficient of variability of phase angle at307 kHz vs. bipolar voltage: .30 vs. .77). Histological analysis excluded the presence of ventricular infarction.

Conclusion: Selective occlusion of atrial coronary branches permits to set up a model of selective atrial infarction. Atrial multifrequency impedance mapping allowed recognition of atrial infarct scarring with lesser data variability than local bipolar voltage mapping. Our model may have potential applicability on the study of atrial arrhythmia mechanisms.
Deep breathing exercise at work: Potential applications and impact
Authors: Tavoian Dallin , Craighead Daniel H.
Published: January 2023

Hypertension is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease and daily deep breathing exercise (DBE) is a promising intervention to reduce blood pressure and stress in adults. DBE is simple, time-efficient, and does not require specialized equipment, allowing participation in a wide variety of settings. The workplace is an ideal setting to implement DBE at the national level for several reasons, including a large proportion of waking hours spent in the workplace, high levels of sedentary time at work, prevalence of work-related stress, and regular breaks throughout the day potentially reducing worker error. While the degree of adherence to daily workplace DBE will be the responsibility of the individual, employers and managers can (and should) do much to remove barriers to participation. Specifically, this could include: implementing regular short breaks or classes to perform DBE throughout the day, covering subscription costs for smartphone applications that guide DBE, and creating incentive programs for continuing DBE participation. Implementing DBE in the workplace is a pragmatic approach to provide a low-cost blood pressure and stress reduction therapy to a substantial portion of the adult population in the US, at least 50% of whom have high blood pressure.
Important wheat diseases in the US and their management in the 21st century
Authors: Singh Jagdeep , Chhabra Bhavit , Raza Ali , Yang Seung Hwan , Sandhu Karansher S.
Published: January 2023

Wheat is a crop of historical significance, as it marks the turning point of human civilization 10,000 years ago with its domestication. Due to the rapid increase in population, wheat production needs to be increased by 50% by 2050 and this growth will be mainly based on yield increases, as there is strong competition for scarce productive arable land from other sectors. This increasing demand can be further achieved using sustainable approaches including integrated disease pest management, adaption to warmer climates, less use of water resources and increased frequency of abiotic stress tolerances. Out of 200 diseases of wheat, 50 cause economic losses and are widely distributed. Each year, about 20% of wheat is lost due to diseases. Some major wheat diseases are rusts, smut, tan spot, spot blotch, fusarium head blight, common root rot, septoria blotch, powdery mildew, blast, and several viral, nematode, and bacterial diseases. These diseases badly impact the yield and cause mortality of the plants. This review focuses on important diseases of the wheat present in the United States, with comprehensive information of causal organism, economic damage, symptoms and host range, favorable conditions, and disease management strategies. Furthermore, major genetic and breeding efforts to control and manage these diseases are discussed. A detailed description of all the QTLs, genes reported and cloned for these diseases are provided in this review. This study will be of utmost importance to wheat breeding programs throughout the world to breed for resistance under changing environmental conditions.
Spliceostatin C, a component of a microbial bioherbicide, is a potent phytotoxin that inhibits the spliceosome
Authors: Bajsa-Hirschel Joanna , Pan Zhiqiang , Pandey Pankaj , Asolkar Ratnakar N. , Chittiboyina Amar G. , Boddy Louis , Machingura Marylou C. , Duke Stephen O.
Published: January 2023

Spliceostatin C (SPC) is a component of a bioherbicide isolated from the soil bacterium Burkholderia rinojensis. The chemical structure of SPC closely resembles spliceostatin A (SPA) which was characterized as an anticancer agent and splicing inhibitor. SPC inhibited the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings with an IC50 value of 2.2 µM. The seedlings exposed to SPC displayed a significant response with decreased root length and number and inhibition of gravitropism. Reverse transcriptase semi-quantitative PCR (RT-sqPCR) analyses of 19 selected genes demonstrated the active impact of SPC on the quality and quantity of transcripts that underwent intron rearrangements as well as up or down expression upon exposure to SPC. Qualitative and quantitative proteomic profiles identified 66 proteins that were significantly affected by SPC treatment. Further proteomics data analysis revealed that spliceostatin C induces hormone-related responses in Arabidopsis seedlings. In silico binding studies showed that SPC binds to a pocket between the SF3B3 and PF5A of the spliceosome.
Interaction of genotype-ecological type-plant spacing configuration in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] in China
Authors: Yan Peng , Song Ying-Hui , Zhang Kuang-Ye , Zhang Feng , Tang Yu-Jie , Zhao Xiang-Na , Wang Nai , Ke Fu-Lai , Gao Feng-Ju , Li Ji-Hong , Li Jun-Xia , Gao Yue , Yang Wei , Gao Fang-Chao , Qi Dan-Dan , Wang Zhi , You Guang-Xia , Han Fen-Xia , Zhou Zi-Yang , Li Gui-Ying
Published: January 2023

Grain sorghum has been a significant contributor to global food security since the prehistoric period and may contribute even more to the security of both food and energy in the future. Globally, precise management techniques are crucial for increasing grain sorghum productivity. In China, with diverse ecological types, variety introduction occasionally occurs across ecological zones. However, few information is available on the effect of ecological type on genotype performance and how plant spacing configuration influences grain yield in various ecological zones. Hence, a series of two-year field experiments were conducted in 2020 and 2021 in four ecological zones of China, from the northeast to the southwest. The experiments included six widely adapted sorghum varieties under six plant spacing configurations (two row spacing modes: equidistant row spacing (60 cm) mode and wide (80 cm)-narrow (40 cm) row spacing mode; three in-row plant spacings: 10 cm, 15 cm, and 20 cm). Our results indicated that ecological type, variety, and plant spacing configuration had a significant effect on sorghum yield. Ecological type contributed the highest proportion to the yield variance (49.8%), followed by variety (8.3%), while plant spacing configuration contributed 1.8%. Sorghum growth duration was highly influenced by the ecological type, accounting for 87.2% of its total variance, whereas plant height was mainly affected by genotype, which contributed 81.6% of the total variance. All test varieties, developed in the south or north, can reach maturity within 94-108 d, just before fall sowing in central China. Generally, sorghum growth duration becomes longer when a variety is introduced from south to north. A late-maturing variety, developed in the spring sowing and late-maturing regions, possibly could not reach maturity in the early-maturing region. The row spacing modes had no significant affect on sorghum yield, but the equal-row spacing mode consistently caused higher yields with only one exception; this might imply that equal-row spacing mode was more advantageous for boosting sorghum yield potential. In contrast, decreasing in-row plant spacing showed significant positive linear associations with sorghum grain yield in most cases. In addition, these results demonstrated that sorghum is a widely adapted crop and enables success in variety introduction across ecological zones.