bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An unusual case of isolated axillary vein injury managed successfully using indigenous resources: Case Report.
Authors: Tiwari Kritika , Gupta Shardool Vikram , kumar Jitendra , kumar Paritosh
Published: June 2023

Introduction:
Trauma to the axillary vessel is uncommon and most of the time it is associated with injury to other accompanying structures including nerves and bones. An isolated injury to the axillary vein is of very rare occurrence and it is hardly reported in the literature. There is a high risk of morbidity and mortality associated with venous injury in comparison to arterial injury. Ligation is one of the options in the case of a difficult venous injury. Reconstruction, however challenging for venous injuries, is generally preferable if possible.
Case Presentation:
We discuss a case of a 14-year-old boy who arrived in the emergency department with severe bleeding from the axilla. Most of the time, gunshot, sharp, penetrating, or warfare injuries are associated with axillary vessel injuries. But in this case, the mode of injury was very trivial and acquired while some objects got blasted off in the nearby fire during the winter season. Because the bleeding was so severe, the patient was rushed to the operating room, and the wound was explored. Indigenous-made slings of glove rings were employed for proximal and distal control of the axillary vein, and the rent in the axillary vein was repaired with a successful postoperative outcome.
Conclusion
Early recognition and intervention in cases of vascular trauma are of paramount importance to saving the limb and life of the patient. An axillary vein injury can be repaired successfully using minimal resources with a good surgical outcome.
Land Use/Cover Dynamics and Associated Impacts on Eutrophication, Land Surface Temperature, and Ecosystem Service Values: An Eco-Climatological Investigation of Chilika Lake, India.
Authors: Saini Dev Shree , R Mithuna , Gupta Bhaskar Sen , Saha Arnab , Das Bhaskar
Published: June 2023

Asia’s largest water lagoon, Chilika Lake, located in Odisha, India, is a vital economic and environmental source for the region. For the last few decades, many studies provided fragmented reports on the rapid deterioration of environmental conditions due to climate changes from intensive urban and industrial activities. The present study, for the first time provides comprehensive information about the transition of the landscape, which had occurred in the region with their associated impact on surface temperature and ecological services. Remote sensing techniques were utilised to classify land use and land cover dynamics over a period of 30 years (1991–2021). Landsat data were used to create maps for the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), and Land Surface Temperature (LST) to apprehend the spatial and temporal variability and its ecological functions. The findings revealed that the lake area shrank by around 11.7% in the last three decades, owing to the conversion of mangrove and wetland areas into agricultural and urban land. The NDVI maps revealed a decline in plant cover in the catchment region, indicating a decrease in the lake's ecological services, whereas the NDWI maps indicated a reduction in the catchment area of the lake, and these maps highlighted eutrophication spots on lake surface images due to increasing nutrient concentrations and decreased water quality in the lake. LST maps indicated a rise in surface temperature, which might be attributed to decreasing vegetative cover and water bodies, which tend to alter the lake's thermal regime. The CA-Markov model forecast map for 2026 suggested that the lake area would further decrease while urban and agricultural land would rise. The prediction map for 2021 compared to the existing map showed a slight improvement in lake levels caused by the pandemic, limited urban activity, and other possibilities.
RETRACTED: References range and influencing factors of body composition and regional fat for children and adolescents: Compositional Data Analysis
Authors: Liu Qing , Cheng Jinqun , Xu Peng , Huang Yanhong , Ren Zhiqiang , Zhu Sui , Yang Yi , Gao Yanhui
Published: June 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Dimethyl fumarate or teriflunomide for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a meta-analysis of post-marketing studies
Authors: Prosperini Luca , Haggiag Shalom , Ruggieri Serena , Tortorella Carla , Gasperini Claudio
Published: June 2023

Objective. In the absence of head-to-head comparison trials, we aimed to compare the effectiveness of two largely prescribed oral platform disease-modifying treatments for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, namely dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and teriflunomide (TRF).
Methods. We searched scientific databases to identify real world studies reporting a direct comparison of DMF versus TRF. We fitted inverse-variance weighted meta-analyses with random-effects models to estimated risk ratios (RR) of relapse, confirmed disability worsening (CDW) and treatment discontinuation.
Results. Quantitative synthesis was accomplished on 14 articles yielding 11,889 and 8,133 patients treated with DMF and TRF, respectively, with a follow-up ranging from 1 to 2.8 years. DMF was slightly more effective than TRF in reducing the short-term relapse risk (RR = –0.08, p = 0.01). Meta-regression analyses showed that such between-arm difference tends to fade in studies including younger patients and a higher proportion of treatment naïve subjects. There was no difference between DMF and TRF on the short-term risk of CDW (RR = 0.99, p = 0.69). The risk of treatment discontinuation was slightly lower with TRF than with DMF (RR = 1.07; p= 0.007) after removing one study with relevant risk of publication bias that altered the final pooled result, as also confirmed by a leave-one-out sensitivity analysis.
Discussion. Our findings suggest that DMF is associated with a lower risk of relapses than TRF, with more nuanced differences in younger naïve patients. On the other hand, TRF is associated with a lower risk of treatment discontinuation.
Detecting potential declines in a threatened dung beetle with N- mixtured models: Eurysternus impressicollis Castelnau 1840 in north-western Venezuela
Authors: autor] José R. Ferrer-Paris [first , MARIA CECILIA , Cardozo Arlene , Sánchez-Mercado Ada
Published: June 2023

Implementation of conservation planning and management strategies for threatened dung beetle species have been hampered by lack of reliable information about temporal and spatial patterns in abundance. Distinguishing “real” patterns responding to ecological processes, from “artifacts” created by sampling limitations, is not a simple task. Pitfall trap data from NeoMaps standardized surveys (2006 and 2009) were combined with environmental variables from remote sensors, and used N-mixture models to evaluate how observed changes in detection and abundance ofEurysternus impressicollis, a Vulnerable dung beetle species in northwestern Venezuela, could be attributable to differences in sampling effort or changing conditions in habitat across time. Minor temporal changes in detectability had a positive relationship with sampling effort, but a negative relationship with evapotranspiration. Sampling effort was enough to detect the species where it was present, so lack of detection in other transects are likely to represent true absences. Temporal change in abundance was explained by vegetation condition and temperature so, the low abundance recorded in 2009 were not a sampling artifact, but were likely to reflect multi-year fluctuations in environmental conditions. Also, the model allowed to explain landscape variation in abundance, being more abundant in localities with denser, more humid forest. This approach could be widely applied to pitfall data from other dung beetle monitoring programs across the world to inform conservation status assessment and guide future studies on the distribution and ecology of dung beetle threatened species.
Oxidative Stress and Quolity of Life in Severe Copd in Stable Phase
Authors: González J. Abreu , González P. Abreu , Sosa A. Jiménez , Macarios C Casanova , Tajés J.P. De Torres , García C. Martin
Published: June 2023

Objective Oxidative stress (OS) is a pathogenic mechanism present in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), with a systemic effect and which can alter the quality of life of patients. The aim of this study is to study the relationship between OE and quality of life in patients with stable COPD.
Patients and Methods Seventy-six subjects were studied, 54 with COPD and 22 controls. The amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum (nmol/mL) and induced sputum (nmol/mg protein) were measured as markers of systemic and bronchial OE, respectively. In addition, quality of life was measured using the St. George's questionnaire, which is specific for COPD patients.
Results Patients with COPD presented higher serum MDA levels than controls (2.98±0.03 nmol/m L vs 1.2±0.03 nmol/mL, p<0.001 respectively). An inverse association was observed between FEV1%, MDA levels in sputum (r=-0.499, P=0.018) and serum (r=-0.29, P=0.029). Finally, controlling for degree of bronchial obstruction, a direct association was observed between serum MDA levels and Total Quality of Life domains (r= 0.48, P= 0.04), on impact (r= 0.57, P< 0.001) and on activity (r= 0.38, p= 0.028).
Conclusions Systemic oxidative stress is increased in stable phase COPD patients. In addition, increased bronchial obstruction increases both systemic and bronchial oxidative stress. Finally, regardless of the degree of bronchial obstruction, systemic oxidative stress decreases patients' quality of life.
Antarctic Ice Sheet tipping in the last 800 kyr warns of future ice loss
Authors: Chandler David , Langebroek Petra , Reese Ronja , Albrecht Torsten , Garbe Julius , Winkelmann Ricarda
Published: June 2023

Ice loss from Antarctica's vast freshwater reservoir could threaten coastal communities and the global economy if the ice volume decreases by even just a few percent [1]. Key processes controlling the fine balance between ice gain and ice loss remain poorly constrained, so that Antarctica's contribution to future sea-level changes ranks as the most uncertain of all potential contributors [2]. Meanwhile, observed changes in mass balance are limited to ~40 years [3,4] and difficult to put into context for an ice sheet with response time scales reaching centuries to millennia. To gain a much longer-term perspective, we here combine transient and equilibrium Parallel Ice Sheet Model [5,6] simulations of Antarctic Ice Sheet response to repeated glacial-interglacial warming and cooling cycles over the last 800,000 years. We find hysteresis (path-dependent states [7,8]) in the ice sheet response that is caused both by the long response time and by crossing of tipping points [9]. Notably, West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapse contributes over 4 m sea-level rise in all equilibrium ice sheet states with ocean temperatures only 0 to 0.25°C warmer than present. A “borrowed time” (overshoot) scenario best characterises our present-day ice sheet, supporting recent studies warning of substantial irreversible ice loss on millennial time-scales, even without further climate warming [10-12].
The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Authors: Marbun Tolop Oloan
Published: June 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Jejunogastric intussusception associated with jejunojejunal intussusception (double telescoping) occurring 20 years after gastrojejunostomy
Authors: Atri souhaib , Hammami Mahdi , Sebai Amine , Aifia Rany , Brahim Meriem Ben , Chaker Youssef , Fteriche Fadhel Samir , Kacem Montassar
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Jejunogastric intussusception (JGI) is a rare but potentially lethal complication following gastrectomy or gastrojejunostomy surgeries. Diagnosis of this condition can be challenging due to its rarity and non-specific symptoms. This article presents a case report of a 60-year-old male with a history of trans mesocolic gastrojejunostomy who developed acute symptoms of JGI.
Case Report: The patient presented with acute epigastric pain, vomiting, and hematemesis. Physical examination and laboratory tests indicated dehydration, tachycardia, and leukocytosis. Computed tomography (CT) revealed intussuscepted loops within the stomach. Emergency laparotomy was performed, and the intussusception was manually reduced without the need for resection. The patient recovered well and was discharged five days post-surgery.
Discussion: Retrograde jejunogastric intussusception is a rare complication, often occurring years after gastric surgery. It can be classified into acute and chronic forms, with the former presenting with intense pain and potential hematemesis. The condition can arise in different surgical contexts and even spontaneously. The cause of JGI remains unclear, but factors such as hyperacidity, abnormal motility, and increased intra-abdominal pressure have been implicated. Diagnosis can be made through endoscopy or alternative imaging modalities such as CT. Surgical intervention is the treatment of choice, with various options available based on intraoperative findings.
Conclusion: Retrograde jejunogastric intussusception is challenging to diagnose and treat due to its rarity and lack of understanding of its causes. Imaging techniques and endoscopy play important roles in diagnosis, while surgery remains the primary treatment option. Vigilance is necessary among medical professionals to consider JGI in cases of acute abdominal pain and vomiting following gastric surgery, allowing for prompt diagnosis and intervention to prevent bowel necrosis. Further research is needed to establish optimal surgical strategies and evaluate recurrence rates.
Effects of microbial inoculants combined with maize straw on physicochemical properties and microbial community structure in black soil during soybean growth
Authors: HOU Tingting Dr. , Yu Deshui , du jie , li Meng , Zhang Ye , Meng Liqiang
Published: June 2023

Aim
Traditionally, increased crop yield has been supported by applying a large amount of chemical fertilizer. However, using excessive chemical fertilizers on soils diminishes soil fertility and crop yield while contaminating the ecological environment.
Method
To replace the fertilizer, microbial inoculants, and maize straws were introduced to the soil as environmental fertilizers in this study. During soybean cultivation, their effects on physicochemical properties, enzyme activity, and microbial community structure in the soil were investigated. Compared to fertilization alone, adding microbial inoculants mixed with maize straw (CSF) during soybean cultivation boosted agronomic traits such as soybean fresh weight, plant height, and stem thickness.
Result
This increased the physicochemical parameters of the soil, such as pH, available Potassium (AP), and water content, affecting the soil bacterial population. Bacteria abundance and diversity significantly increased, with acidobacter, Proteobacteria, Candidatus_ Solibacte, and Sphingomonas dominating. Redundancy analysis revealed that pH and AP were environmental factors that influenced microbial community structure. CSF boosted microbial diversity and community structure while increasing soybean yield from 3.91–5.46%.
Conclusion
In conclusion, soil improvement using maize straw and composite compound inoculants produced better outcomes. Our findings offer theoretical and experimental references for soil erosion.
Microglia Play an Important Role in PRV Infection-Induced Immune Responses of the Central Nervous System
Authors: Sun Xiuxiu , Jin Xinxin , Liu Xi , Wang Lumeng , Li Li , Yang Junjie , Feng Helong , Lin Zhengdan , Zhan Cunlin , Zhang Wanpo , Gu Changqin , Hu Xueying , Liu Xiaoli , Cheng Guofu
Published: June 2023

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) can infect multiple hosts and lead to fatal encephalitis. There is a significant increase in the number of microglia in the brain of animals infected with PRV. However, whether and how microglia contribute to central nervous system damage in PRV infection remain unknown. In the present study, we elucidated that PRV infection can cause more severe inflammatory cell infiltration, thicker and more numerous vessel sleeve walls, and more severe inflammatory responses in the brains of natural hosts (pigs) than in those of nonnatural hosts (mice). In a mice infection model, activated microglia restricted viral replication in the early stage of infection. Acute neuroinflammation caused by microglia hyperactivation at late-stage of infection. Furthermore, in vitro experiments revealed that microglia restricted viral replication and decreased viral infectivity. This may be associated with the phagocytic ability of microglia because we observed a significant increase in the expression of the membrane receptor TREM2 in microglia, which is closely related to phagocytosis, we observed that depletion of microglia exacerbated neurological symptoms, blood–brain barrier breakdown, and peripheral lymphocyte infiltration. Taken together, we revealed the dual role of microglia in protecting the host and neurons from PRV infection. IMPORTANCE PRV causes a neuro-virulent disease in natural and unnatural hosts which is often fatal. Microglial activation plays an important role in neuroinflammatory diseases. However, how microglia play a role in this process remains unclear. In this study, the differences of pathological changes between pigs and mice infected with PRV were compared. In a mice infection model, activated microglia restricted viral replication in the early stage of infection. Acute neuroinflammation caused by microglia hyperactivation at late-stage of infection. In vitro experiments revealed that microglia restricted viral replication and decreased viral infectivity. New therapeutics targeting microglia activation may help to treat PRV-associated neurocognitive disorders.
The Power of Princesses: How Disney's Female Characters Shape Girls' Identities
Authors: Singer Nermeen
Published: June 2023

This review article examines the profound influence of Disney's female characters, specifically princesses, on the identities of young girls. Drawing on a comprehensive analysis of literature, the article explores various dimensions through which these characters shape girls' understanding of themselves and the world around them. The findings highlight that Disney princesses serve as powerful role models for young girls, challenging traditional gender stereotypes and promoting positive values. They showcase traits beyond beauty and love interests, displaying resilience, intelligence, bravery, and independence. However, the article also acknowledges the controversies surrounding the portrayal of princesses and their potential negative effects. The article calls for a balanced approach, encouraging the embrace of empowering aspects while remaining critical and mindful of the limitations. By fostering media literacy and promoting inclusive narratives, society can harness the positive influence of Disney princesses to empower young girls and support their holistic development.
Sequence-specific interactions determine viscoelastic moduli and aging dynamics of protein condensates
Authors: Alshareedah Ibraheem , Borcherds Wade , Cohen Samuel , Farag Mina , Singh Anurag , Bremer Anne , Pappu Rohit , Mittag Tanja , Banerjee Priya
Published: June 2023

Biomolecular condensates that form via phase separation coupled to percolation are complex viscoelastic materials whose properties are thought to influence cellular functions and pathology. Here, we report results from measurements of sequence-encoded and age-dependent material properties of condensates formed by intrinsically disordered prion-like low complexity domains (PLCDs). Nascent PLCD condensates are viscoelastic Maxwell fluids, and their sequence-specific dynamical moduli are governed by the strengths of aromatic sticker-sticker interactions. These measured moduli are reproducible using a generalized Rouse-Zimm model that accounts for the computed inhomogeneous network-like structures of condensates. PLCD condensates can undergo physical aging that leads to dynamical arrest on sequence-specific timescales. However, contrary to being glass-like, the aged PLCD condensates are non-fibrillar, terminally elastic, Kelvin-Voigt solids. These results suggest that terminally viscous fluid states of condensates are metastable, whereas their terminally elastic solid states are globally stable. The timescales of fluid-to-solid transitions can be controlled by mutations to spacers that weaken the metastability of fluids. Taken together, our results suggest that sequence features of naturally occurring PLCDs enhance the metastabilities of terminally viscous condensates. This likely renders the barriers for conversion from fluids to solids to be insurmountable on timescales that are relevant to condensate functions in cells.
A holistic model of health inequalities for health policy and state administration: a case study in the regions of the Czech Republic
Authors: Hübelová Dana , Caha Jan , Janošíková Lenka , Kozumplíková Alice
Published: June 2023

Background Health inequities exist within and between societies at different hierarchical levels. Despite overall improvements in health status in European Union countries, disparities persist among socially, economically, and societally disadvantaged individuals. This study aims to develop a holistic model of health determinants, examining the complex relationship between various determinants of health inequalities and their association with health conditions.
Methods Health inequalities and conditions were assessed at the territorial level of Local Administrative Units (LAU1) in the Czech Republic. A dataset of 57 indicators was created, categorized into seven determinants of health and one health condition category. The necessary data were obtained from publicly available databases. Comparisons were made between 2001–2003 and 2016–2019. Various methods were employed, including composite indicator creation, correlation analysis, the Wilcox Test, aggregate index calculation, cluster analysis, and data visualization using the LISA method.
Results The correlation matrix revealed strong relationships between health inequality categories in both periods. The most significant associations were observed between Economic status and social protection and Education in the first period. However, dependencies weakened in the later period, approaching values of approximately 0.50. The Wilcox Test confirmed variations in determinant values over time, except for three specific determinants. Data visualization identified persistently adverse or worsening health inequalities in specific LAU1, focusing on categories such as Economic status, Education, Demographic situation, Environmental status, Individual living status, and Road safety and crime. The health condition indices showed no significant change over time, while the aggregate index of health inequalities improved with widened differences.
Conclusion Spatial inequalities in health persist in the Czech Republic, influenced by economic, social, demographic, and environmental factors, as well as local healthcare accessibility. Both inner and outer peripheries exhibit poor health outcomes, challenging the assumption that urban areas fare better. The combination of poverty and vulnerabilities exacerbates these inequalities. Despite the low rates of social exclusion and poverty, regional health inequalities persist in the long term. Effectively addressing health inequalities requires interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based policy interventions. Efforts should focus on creating supportive social and physical environments, strengthening the healthcare system, and fostering cooperation with non-medical disciplines.
Recognition of seismogenic sources using time-frequency analysis
Authors: Buitrago Alejandro Alzate , Saldaña Leonardo Cano , Monsalve Hugo
Published: June 2023

A characterization of seismic signals was carried out, using signal analysis techniques in the time-frequency domain, in order to identify the relevant characteristics of five seismic sources, excluding any knowledge of the seismogenic source and extracting and recognizing characteristic patterns that would allow classification of the earthquakes and to allow any possible qualitative explanation of a likely source that originated the event. For this purpose, a database consisting of 293 signals that were previously located and assigned to mentioned seismic sources. Finally, a basic classification system was designed through a neural network multilayer perceptron that assigns the earthquake to one of the seismic sources established according to the features and patterns that have been detected using time-frequency analysis.
The Effect of Manual Therapy on Psychological Factors and Quality of Life in Lumbar Disc Herniation Patients: A Single Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Taşkaya Burhan , Taşkent İsmail , Çakıllı³ Mahmut , Yılmaz⁴ Öznur
Published: June 2023

Background
The efficacy of manual therapy on psychological factors and quality of life in lumbar disc herniation patients has not been well studied.
Aim
This study aimed to investigate the effect of manual therapy on pain, kinesiophobia, pain catastrophizing, anxiety, depression and quality of life in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH).
Method
The study included 32 LDH patients. Patients were divided into Manual therapy group (MTG- age 39.81 ± 9.45 years) and Exercise group (EG- age 38.31 ± 9.21 years) by sealed envelope randomization. Patients were evaluated pre-study, post-study and 3-month period using the McGill-Melzack Pain Questionnaire (MMPQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TKS), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PKS) and Notthingam Health Profile (NSP). The exercise group received a total of 10 sessions of stabilization exercises in 5 weeks, 2 sessions per week. In addition to stabilization exercises, mobilization applications including Anterior-Posterior Lumbar Spinal Mobilization, Lumbar Spinal Rotational Mobilization and Joint Mobilization in Lumbar Flexion Position were applied to the manual therapy group.
Results
It was found that HADS and TKS values decreased in the MTG group compared to the pre-treatment period (p < 0.05), while there was no difference between these values in the EG group (p > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in MMPQ, PCS and NHP values after treatment in both MTG and EG groups (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
It was found that manual therapy had positive effects on psychological factors such as pain, kinesiophobia, pain catastrophizing, anxiety, depression and quality of life in patients with LDH.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05804357
Impact of Prophylactic Central Lymph Node Dissection on the Complications and Recurrence Rates in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma — An AFCE (French-speaking Association of Endocrine Surgery) multicentre study based on the EUROCRINE® national data.
Authors: Chereau Nathalie , Christou Niki , Caiazzo Robert , Fouler Adrien Le , Lifante Jean christophe , Maillard Laure , Mirallie Eric , Pattou Francois , Bouviez Nicolas , Santucci Nicolas , Brunaud Laurent , Menegaux Fabrice
Published: June 2023

Purpose
Prophylactic central neck dissection (pCND) remains controversial during the initial surgery for preoperative and intraoperative node-negative (cN0) papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).
Methods
Patients undergoing thyroidectomy with or without pCND (Nx) for PTC in nine French surgical departments, registered in the EUROCRINE® national data in France between January 2015 and June 2021, were included in a cohort study. Demographic and clinicopathological characteristics, complications, and recurrence rates were compared using multivariate regression analysis.
Results
A total of 1,905 patients with cN0 PTC were enrolled, including 1,534 who had undergone pCND and 371 who hadn’t (Nx). Of these, 1,546 (81.2%) were female, and the median age was 49 years (range:15–89 years). Patients who had undergone pCND were more likely to have multifocal tumors (n = 524[34.2%] vs. n = 68[18.3%], p < 0.001) and larger tumors (15.3 mm vs. 10.2 mm, p = 0.01) than patients with Nx. Of the patients with pCND, 553 (36%) had positive central LN (N1a), with a median of 1 N1 (IQR 0–5). pCND was associated with a higher temporary hypocalcemia rate (n = 25 [8%] vs. n = 15 [4%], p < 0.001). The rates of permanent hypocalcemia and temporary and permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy were not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.2). After adjusting for covariates (age, sex, multifocality, and pathological T stage) in a multivariable Cox PH model, the performance of lymph node dissection (pCND vs. no-pCND) was not associated with PTC recurrence (p = 0.2).
Conclusion
pCND in PTC does not reduce recurrence and is associated with a two-fold increase in the incidence of transient hypoparathyroidism. These data should be considered while issuing further guidelines regarding the treatment of patients with cN0 PTC.
Kinome and phosphoproteome reprogramming underlies the aberrant immune responses in critically ill COVID-19 patients
Authors: Kaneko Tomonori , Ezra Sally , Abdo Rober , Voss Courtney , Zhong Shanshan , Liu Xuguang , Hovey Owen , Martin Claudio M. , Slessarev Marat , Nynatten Logan Robert , Ye Mingliang , Fraser Douglas , Li Shawn
Published: June 2023

The SARS-CoV-2 infection elicits comprehensive host immune reactions and causes severe diseases in some individuals. However, the molecular basis underlying the excessive, yet non-productive immune responses in severe COVID-19 is not fully understood. To address this, we compared the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proteome and phosphoproteome of sepsis patients positive or negative for SARS-CoV-2 and healthy subjects by quantitative mass spectrometry. We show here that the COVID-19 PBMC proteome and phosphoproteome undergo dynamic changes during disease progression, and the corresponding protein or phosphoprotein signatures can distinguish longitudinal disease states. Furthermore, SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to a global reprogramming of the kinome and the phosphoproteome, resulting in defective adaptive immune response mediated by B and T lymphocytes, compromised innate immune responses involving the SIGLEC and SLAM family of immunoreceptors, and excessive cytokine-JAK-STAT signaling. Besides uncovering the host proteome and phosphoproteome aberrations caused by SARS-CoV-2, our work has recapitulated several reported therapeutic targets for COVID-19 and identified numerous new ones, including the kinases PKG1, CK2, ROCK1/2, GRK2, SYK, JAK2/3, TYK2, DNA-PK and the cytokine IL-12. FUNDING. Ontario Research Fund (ORF)-COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund.
Inhibition of defect-induced α-to-δ phase transition for efficient and stable formamidinium perovskite solar cells
Authors: Chen Tian , Wen Ben , Yin Qixin , Lin Ruohao , Zhu Shengcai , Gao Pingqi , Xie Jiangsheng
Published: June 2023

Defects passivation has been widely devoted to improving the performance of formamidinium lead triiodide (FAPbI3) perovskite solar cells; however, the effect of various defects on the α-phase stability is still unclear. Here, using density functional theory, we first reveal the degradation pathway of the FAPbI3 perovskite from α to δ phase and investigate the effect of various defects on the energy barrier of phase transition. The simulation results predict that iodine vacancies are most likely to trigger the degradation, since they obviously reduce the energy barrier of α-to-δ phase transition and have the lowest formation energies at the perovskite surface. A water-insoluble PbC2O4 compact layer was introduced on the perovskite surface to largely suppress the α-phase collapse through hindering the iodine migration and volatilization. Furthermore, this strategy largely reduced the interfacial nonradiative recombination and boosted the efficiency of the solar cells to 25.39% (certified 24.92%). Unpackaged device can maintain 92% of its initial efficiency after operation at maximum power point under simulated air mass 1.5G irradiation for 550 h.
Genetic analysis of Indian patients with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in children
Authors: Prasad Narayan , Dhanorkar Manoj , Kushwaha Ravi , Yadav Brijesh , Patel Manas , Kaul Anupama , Bhadauria Dharmendra , Behera Manas , Veeranki Vamsidhar , Meyyappan Jeyakumar , Yaccha Monika , Jain Manoj
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) children carry poor outcomes. In the hope of achieving remission, patients are frequently treated with repeated courses of steroids and other immunosuppressives. Patients with genetic mutations are usually steroid-resistant, except for a few patients. There is a paucity of data on genetic mutations in Indian children with SRNS. Methods: In this study, we identified SRNS patients and were asked for whole exome sequencing to identify mutations responsible for steroid resistance after informed consent from the parents or Guardians. We also analyzed the phenotypic and genotypic association with clinical course and response to varied immunosuppressive medications. Result: A total of 82 SRNS children included in the study were categorized into syndromic, in whom systemic features other than NS were also present; and non-syndromic SRNS do not have any other systemic features. Of the 82 patients subjected to genetic analysis, 29 did not reveal any mutations, and 53 showed genetic mutations. Genetic mutation variants were categorized according to ACMG criteria which showed 10 pathogenic, 5 likely pathogenic, and 38 variants of unknown significance. Mutations detected in SRNS children differed from those reported in the Western world. Nineteen of 82 SRNS children had Alport syndrome on mutational analysis. We identified many novel mutations associated with SNRS and also observed that many mutations were responsive to immunosuppression. Conclusions: The genetic analysis may obviate the need for a repeated course of immunosuppression with obvious mutations that are unlikely to respond to immunosuppression. Alport syndrome may present as SRNS in children.
Longitudinal relationships of psychotic-like experiences with suicidal ideation and self-harm in adolescents
Authors: Zhou Rui , Foo Jerome Clifford , Nishida Asuka , Ogawa Sayoko , Togo Fumiharu , Sasaki Tsukasa
Published: June 2023

Background Research in adolescents suggests associations between psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs), but insights into their temporal relationship, which may inform prediction, have been limited. Psychological distress (PD; symptoms of depression and anxiety) has been related to both PLEs and SITBs, and may modulate this relationship. Given that PLEs have been linked to the development of several mental disorders, and the relationships between SITBs and suicide, it is important to better understand their relationship.
Methods The present study sought to investigate these factors using a longitudinal school-based design. Adolescents (n = 1685, ages 12-18) completed annual self-report assessments (6 time points) on PLEs, SITBs (suicidal ideation (SI) and self-harm (SH)), as well as PD. The longitudinal associations between PLEs and SITBs were analyzed, employing two cross-lagged panel models (CLPMs), with and without adjustment for PD.
Results Unadjusted CLPMs revealed significant bidirectional temporal associations between PLEs and SITBs (both SI and SH), suggesting that PLEs both predicted and were predicted by SITBs. When adjusting for PD, the effect of SI on PLEs remained significant, but not PLEs on SI; bidirectional associations between PLEs and SH also remained significant.
Conclusion A bidirectional longitudinal relationship where both PLEs and SITBs can precede (and perhaps predict) each other was suggested in adolescents. PD may play a particular role in situations where PLEs are followed by SI. Heightened awareness about relationships between these phenotypes may be an important step towards facilitating timely interventions for both mental disorders and suicide.
Ethanol-Producing Enterocloster bolteae is enriched in Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Gut Dysbiosis: A Case-Control Culturomics Study
Authors: WASFY Reham MAGDY , MBAYE Babacar , BORENTAIN Patrick , ALOU Maryam TIDJANI , RUIZ Maria Leticia MURILLO , CAPUTO Aurelia , ANDRIEU Claudia , ARMSTRONG Nicholas , RAOULT Didier , MILLION Matthieu , GEROLAMI Rene
Published: June 2023

Background
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health epidemic that causes fatal complications leading to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The link between HBV-related dysbiosis and specific bacterial taxa is still under investigation. Enterocloster is emerging as a new genus (formerly Clostridium), including Enterocloster bolteae, a gut pathogen previously associated with dysbiosis and human diseases such as autism, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Its role in liver diseases, especially HBV infection, is not reported.
Methods
We analyzed the fecal samples of eight patients with HBV and ten healthy individuals using the high-throughput culturomics approach compared to 16S rRNA sequencing. Quantification of ethanol, known for its damaging effect on the liver, produced from bacterial strains enriched in HBV was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Results
By culturomics, 29,120 isolated colonies were analyzed by MALDI-TOF to identify 340 species (240 species in HBV samples, 254 species in control samples) belonging to 169 genera and six phyla. In the HBV group, 48 species were already known in humans but had not been previously found in the gut, 17 known species not previously found in humans, and six new species were isolated. Comparing bacterial species frequency, we serendipitously found three bacterial genera with significantly enriched bacterial diversity in HBV gut dysbiosis: Enterocloster, Clostridium, and Streptococcus (p = 0.0016, p = 0.041, p = 0.053, respectively). However, metagenomics could not identify this enrichment, possibly concerning its insufficient taxonomical resolution (equivocal assignment of operational taxonomic units). At the species level, significantly enriched species in HBV almost all belonged to class Clostridia as Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium sporogenes, Enterocloster aldenensis, Enterocloster bolteae, Enterocloster clostridioformis, and Clostridium innocuum. Two E. bolteae strains, isolated from two different HBV patients, showed high ethanol production (27 and 200 mM).
Conclusion
Culturomics allowed us to identify Enterocloster species, and specifically E. bolteae, that are enriched in the gut microbiota of HBV patients. These species have never been isolated in HBV patients so far. Moreover, ethanol production by E. Boltea strains isolated from HBV patients could play a role in liver disease progression. Additionally, culturomics might be critical for better elucidating the relationship between dysbiosis and HBV infection in the future.
Comparison of antibacterial activity and biocompatibility of non-leaching nitrofuran bone cement loaded with vancomycin, gentamicin and tigecycline
Authors: Gao Zhe , Xu Yang , Kan Yuchen , Guo Rui , Han Luyang , Bo Wenhan , Chu Jianjun
Published: June 2023

Background
Non-leaching antibacterial bone cement can generate long-term antibacterial activity, it cannot treat serious infections that have occurred like antibiotic-loaded bone cement. Currently, the antibacterial activity and biocompatibility of non-leaching cement when loaded with antibiotics have yet to be determined.
Methods
Non-leaching antibacterial nitrofuran bone cement (NFBC) specimens were prepared with low dose and high dose antibiotics. The antibacterial activity and biocompatibility of NFBC loaded with vancomycin, gentamicin, and tigecycline were compared. The agar diffusion method was employed to observe the inhibition zone of the samples against two bacterial strains from day one to day seven. The CCK-8 assay and acute liver and kidney toxicity test were conducted to assess the effects of the samples on mouse embryo osteoblast precursor cells and C57 mice, respectively.
Results
Gentamicin-loaded cement exhibited the most potent antibacterial activity, effectively inhibiting both bacterial strains at a low dose. Tigecycline-loaded cement demonstrated superior biocompatibility, showing no acute liver and kidney toxicity in mice and minimal cytotoxicity to osteoblasts.
Conclusions
NFBC loaded with gentamicin, vancomycin, and tigecycline not only maintains sustained antibacterial activity but also exhibits excellent biocompatibility.
The impact of rotavirus vaccination on acute diarrhea in Thai children under 5 years of age after the first year of universal implementation of rotavirus vaccines in the National Immunization Program (NIP) in Thailand: A 6-year analysis
Authors: Charoenwat Busara , Suwannaying Kunanya , Paibool Watuhatai , Laoaroon Napat , Sutra Sumitr , Thepsuthammarat Kaewjai
Published: June 2023

Background: Two types of rotavirus vaccines (RVs), Rotarix (RV1) and RotaTeq (RV5), were licensed as optional vaccines in 2012 and became part of the National Immunization Program (NIP) in 2020 in Thailand. The main objective was to evaluate the impact of rotavirus vaccines on the burden of acute diarrheal severity ranging from mild (outpatient department, OPD) to moderately severe as diarrheal-related admission or deaths in pre- and post-NIP periods. The minor objectives were assessed on the monthly admission rate, rotavirus vaccine coverage rate and rotavirus vaccine completed dose (RotaC).
Methods: Data regarding OPD, admission, and death cases under the Thailand National Health Coverage (NHC) between 2015-2019 (pre-NIP period) and in 2020 as the post-NPI year, which were recorded as International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problem 10th (ICD-10), were analyzed.
Results: The burden of diarrheal-related disease was diminished after the rotavirus vaccine was introduced. The OPD visit rate decreased from 10.1 to 8.3 visits per 100 person-years pre- and post-NIP, respectively (P<0.001). The admission rate significantly declined from 31.4 to 30.5 cases per 1,000 person-years pre- and post-NIP, respectively (P<0.001). The diarrheal-related mortality rate also subsided from 10.2 to 8.1 cases per 100,000 person-years pre- and post-NIP, respectively (P 0.3). The major population in both admission and deaths was infants under 1 year of age (P<0.001). Seasonality was seen as a constant bimodal pattern for cool and rainy reasons. RotaC was as high as 37.4%, even in the first year of the NIP.
Conclusions: The rotavirus vaccine had a great impact on the diarrheal disease burden of all outpatient visits, hospitalization, and mortality, especially in infants under one year of age. Seasonality outbreaks of acute diarrhea were observed in each examination year. The RotaC was high even in the first year of the NIP of the rotavirus vaccine. of rotavirus vaccine quality should be warranted. Trial registration: number TCTR20220120003, date of registration: 20/01/2022, site: Thai Clinical Trials Registry, URL https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/show/TCTR20220120003
Responsiveness to sudden disturbances in manufacturing through dynamic job shop scheduling using Quantum Annealing
Authors: Schworm Philipp , Wu Xiangqian , Glatt Moritz , Aurich Jan C.
Published: June 2023

An efficient production planning and control is inevitable for the economic operation of a manufacturing system. As an essential part of production planning and control, process scheduling aims to assign processes to the available resources of a manufacturing system under consideration of its objectives. This forms an optimization problem also known as job shop scheduling which can be solved with computer aided techniques. Exact solution methods are only practical up to a certain number of functional units and processes, therefore, approximation methods are used in industry. However, as the problem size increases, the computational solving time increases significantly and the solution quality decreases in equal measure. In order to react to the current effects of global crises, such as disruptions in supply chains, approaches for fast and efficient rescheduling are needed. A dynamic shop job scheduling approach using Quantum Annealing bears the potential to close this research gap. Previous work has shown that Quantum Annealing is able to solve static job shop scheduling problems within seconds while finding good solutions. However, in a flexible environment such as a manufacturing system, the static approach is not suitable for process scheduling. Therefore, a dynamic Quantum Annealing-based approach for job shop scheduling with consideration of machine breakdowns and new job arrivals is proposed. The approach monitors a manufacturing system and reacts to changes in the job pool or availabilities in functional units with rescheduling. The method is tested with several use cases involving small and large-scale problems and is compared with a simulated annealing approach. Thereby, the Quantum Annealing-based computations show better results regarding solution quality and computing time. Moreover, the dynamic approach bears the potential for industrial application, especially as a supplement to a conventional advanced planning system.
“A beacon of hope": a qualitative study on migrants' mental health needs and community-based organisations' responses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Antwerp, Belgium
Authors: Molenaar Jil , Robinson Hannah , Praag Lore Van
Published: June 2023

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for structurally informed mental health services that are sensitive to social inequalities and cultural differences. Community-level services and organisations are often referred to as having the potential to play a key role in providing such services to migrants, yet not many studies have documented how these types of services have been organised and experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of our case study in Antwerp’s districts of Borgerhout and Antwerpen-Noord (Belgium) was to explore how community-level responses to the mental health impact of the COVID-19 crisis were organised and experienced by first-generation migrants and members of community-level organisations.
Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with first-generation migrants in Borgerhout and Antwerpen-Noord (n = 19) and with professionals in the local psycho-social care sector (n=13).
Results: Our findings highlight the complex drivers of migrants’ mental health and the unique value and indispensability of local-level services and organisations in providing mental-health related services, particularly in a crisis context like the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualities that emerged to be particularly important included organisations’ awareness of local needs; their flexible nature which allows them to address bottlenecks and fill gaps left by other services; their capacity to respond holistically to a broad spectrum of needs; their ability to offer culturally sensitive care and support; and their physical accessibility. However, our findings also demonstrate the fragility and fragmentation of these local-level services and initiatives. In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, this related to serious challenges to the necessary physical accessibility of organisations’ services; services and initiatives becoming overloaded; and widespread fragmentation and lack of oversight of the available services forming a real barrier for both service users and providers.
Conclusions: This study underlines the importance of prioritising physical accessibility of mental health services at the community level, improving cultural sensitivity through training and employing professionals with a shared background or language proficiency with migrants, and promoting stronger collaborations between community-level organizations and city governments. The findings are informative to guide mental health policy and future crisis responses in similar communities and neighbourhoods.