bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the Mechanical Strength of 3-Dimensionally Printed Implants in Septorhinoplasty through Finite Element Analysis
Authors: Syamal Sujata , Taritsa Iulianna C. , Alvarez Angelica Hernandez , Schuster Kirsten , Foppiani Jose , Kaplan David , Lin Samuel J.
Published: June 2024

Background:

Autologous nasoseptal cartilage grafts are used to correct nasal asymmetry and deviation in rhinoplasty, but patients who have undergone multiple operations may have limited autologous cartilage tissue available. L-strut implants created on a 3-dimensional (3D) printer may address these challenges in the future, but their mechanical strength is understudied. Silk fibroin-gelatin (SFG), polycaprolactone (PCL), and polylactide (PLA) are bioinks known for their strength. The authors present finite element analysis (FEA) models comparing the mechanical strength of 3D-printed SFG, PCL, and PLA implants with nasoseptal cartilage grafts when autologous or allografts are not available.

Methods:

FEA models compared the stress and deformation responses of 3D-printed solid and scaffold implant replacements to cartilage. To simulate a daily force from overlying soft tissue, a unidirectional load was applied at the “keystone” region given its structural role and compared with native cartilaginous properties.

Results:

The 3D-printed solid SFG, PCL, and PLA and scaffold PCL and PLA models demonstrated lower deformations compared with cartilage. Solid SFG balanced strength and flexibility. The maximum stress was below all materials’ yield stresses, suggesting that their deformations are unlikely permanent under a daily load.

Conclusions:

The authors’ FEA models suggest that 3D-printed L-strut implants carry promising mechanical strength. Solid SFG results mimicked cartilage’s mechanical behavior. Thus, scaffold SFG merits further geometric optimization for potential use for cartilage substitution. The 3D-printed septal cartilage replacement implants can potentially enhance surgical management of patients who lack available donor cartilage in select settings.

Clinical Relevance Statement:

Computational simulations can evaluate the strength of 3D-printed implants and their potential to replace septal cartilage in septorhinoplasty.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, V.
Effect of Model-Based Iterative Reconstruction on Image Quality of Chest Computed Tomography for COVID-19 Pneumonia
Authors: Liu Caiyin , Lin Junkun , Chen Yingjie , Hu Yingfeng , Wu Ruzhen , Lin Xuejun , Xu Rulin , Zhong Zhiping
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aimed to compare the image quality of chest computed tomography (CT) scans for COVID-19 pneumonia using forward-projected model-based iterative reconstruction solution-LUNG (FIRST-LUNG) with filtered back projection (FBP) and hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR).

Method

The CT images of 44 inpatients diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia between December 2022 and June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The CT images were reconstructed using FBP, HIR, and FIRST-LUNG-MILD/STANDARD/STRONG. The CT values and noise of the lumen of the main trachea and erector spine muscle were measured for each group. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. Subjective evaluations included overall image quality, noise, streak artifact, visualization of normal lung structures, and abnormal CT features. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the objective and subjective indicators among the five groups. The task-based transfer function was derived for three distinct contrasts representing anatomical structures, lower-contrast lesion, and higher-contrast lesion.

Results

The results of the study demonstrated significant differences in image noise, SNR, and CNR among the five groups (P < 0.001). The FBP images exhibited the highest levels of noise and the lowest SNR and CNR among the five groups (P < 0.001). When compared to the FBP and HIR groups, the noise was lower in the FIRST-LUNG-MILD/STANDARD/STRONG group, while the SNR and CNR were higher (P < 0.001). The subjective overall image quality score of FIRST-LUNG-MILD/STANDARD was significantly better than FBP and FIRST-LUNG-STRONG (P < 0.001). FIRST-LUNG-MILD was superior to FBP, HIR, FIRST-LUNG-STANDARD, and FIRST-LUNG-STRONG in visualizing proximal and peripheral bronchovascular and subpleural vessels (P < 0.05). Additionally, FIRST-LUNG-MILD achieved the best scores in evaluating abnormal lung structure (P < 0.001). The overall interobserver agreement was substantial (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.891). The task-based transfer function 50% values of FIRST reconstructions are consistently higher compared to FBP and HIR.

Conclusions

The FIRST-LUNG-MILD/STANDARD algorithm can enhance the image quality of chest CT in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, while preserving important details of the lesions, better than the FBP and HIR algorithms. After evaluating various COVID-19 pneumonia lesions and considering the improvement in image quality, we recommend using the FIRST-LUNG-MILD reconstruction for diagnosing COVID-19 pneumonia.
Optimizing Morbidity in Unplanned Soft Tissue Sarcoma Excisions
Authors: Elmorsi Rami , Camacho Luis , Krijgh David D. , Tilney Gordon S. , Lyu Heather , Traweek Raymond S. , Witt Russell G. , Roubaud Margaret S. , Roland Christina L. , Mericli Alexander F.
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are rare and diverse primary malignant tumors that comprise approximately 1% of all malignancies. Misdiagnoses and unplanned excisions of STSs are common due to the tumor's rarity, leading to secondary tumor bed excisions (TBEs). Reconstructive outcomes for TBEs remain poorly understood, prompting this study to address the knowledge gap and inform preoperative discussions.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent STS excisions at a quaternary cancer center. Patients were categorized into mass excision (ME) and TBE groups. Reconstructive approaches were divided into simple (primary closure, complex repair, skin grafts, local flaps) and advanced (pedicled or free flaps). The groups were compared for postoperative outcomes, including complications, recurrence, and death.

Results

When simple reconstructive techniques were used, TBEs exhibited higher rates of overall and major complications, whereas MEs had higher rates of overall and minor complications. Intergroup analysis revealed that with simple reconstruction, rates of overall and major complications were higher in TBEs than in MEs, and rates of minor complications were higher in MEs than in TBEs. Regression analyses revealed that simple reconstruction of TBEs had 90% and 180% higher odds of major complications and reoperation compared to simple reconstruction of MEs (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

TBEs, despite their smaller size, exhibited a heightened susceptibility to overall and major complications, challenging the notion that simpler techniques suffice in these cases. Our findings encourage the consideration of advanced reconstructive techniques for TBEs that may seem amenable to simple reconstructive techniques.
A Randomized Crossover Trial Evaluating the Impact of Cultural Dexterity Training on Surgical Residents’ Knowledge, Cross-Cultural Care, Skills, and Beliefs
Authors: Smink Douglas S. , Ortega Gezzer , Dacier Brittany M. , Petrusa Emil R. , Chen Yu-Jen , Shaikh Namra Q. , Allar Benjamin G. , Chun Maria B.J. , Green Alexander R. , Caldwell Katharine E. , Atkinson Rachel B. , Reidy Emma , Olufajo Olubode A. , Britt L.D. , Brittain Molly A. , Zárate Rodriguez Jorge , Swoboda Sandra M. , Cornwell Edward E. , Lynch Kenneth A. , Wise Paul E. , Harrington David T. , Kent Tara S. , Mullen John T. , Lipsett Pamela A. , Haider Adil H. ,   and the PACTS Trial Group
Published: June 2024

Objectives:

This trial examines the impact of the Provider Awareness and Cultural dexterity Toolkit for Surgeons (PACTS) curriculum on surgical residents’ knowledge, cross-cultural care, skills, and beliefs.

Background:

Cross-cultural training of providers may reduce health care outcome disparities, but its effectiveness in surgical trainees is unknown.

Methods:

PACTS focuses on developing skills needed for building trust, working with patients with limited English proficiency, optimizing informed consent, and managing pain. The PACTS trial was a randomized crossover trial of 8 academic general surgery programs in the United States: The Early group (“Early”) received PACTS between periods 1 and 2, while the Delayed group (“Delayed”) received PACTS between periods 2 and 3. Residents were assessed preintervention and postintervention on Knowledge, Cross-Cultural Care, Self-Assessed Skills, and Beliefs. χ2 and Fisher exact tests were conducted to evaluate within-intervention and between-intervention group differences.

Results:

Of 406 residents enrolled, 315 were exposed to the complete PACTS curriculum. Early residents’ Cross-Cultural Care (79.6%–88.2%, P<0.0001), Self-Assessed Skills (74.5%––85.0%, P<0.0001), and Beliefs (89.6%–92.4%, P=0.0028) improved after PACTS; knowledge scores (71.3%–74.3%, P=0.0661) were unchanged. Delayed resident scores pre-PACTS to post-PACTS showed minimal improvements in all domains. When comparing the 2 groups in period 2, Early residents had modest improvement in all 4 assessment areas, with a statistically significant increase in Beliefs (92.4% vs 89.9%, P=0.0199).

Conclusions:

The PACTS curriculum is a comprehensive tool that improved surgical residents’ knowledge, preparedness, skills, and beliefs, which will help with caring for diverse patient populations.
Contribution to the Validation of the Portuguese Version of the “Barriers to Enterally Feeding Critically Ill Patients” Questionnaire and Its Application in a Hospital Context
Authors: Abade Mário Rui , Lopes Noémia , de Santo Amaro José
Published: June 2024

In Portugal, there is no validated questionnaire to assess barriers to enteral nutrition administration in critically ill patients. The aim of this study was to validate the “Barriers to Enterally Feeding Critically Ill Patients” questionnaire in a Portuguese context (BEFIP-PT). The BEFIP-PT, which assesses 16 potential barriers divided into 4 domains, was applied to a sample (n = 165) of physicians, nurses, and nutritionists working in the Portuguese intensive care units. The most detrimental barriers perceived by health care professionals were delayed motility agents, delayed small bowel access, and inadequate time dedicated to enteral nutrition education.
Alignment With Health at Every Size May Be Associated With Lower Weight Blaming Among Registered Dietitians in the United States
Authors: Wijayatunga Nadeeja N. , Bailey Dylan , Klobodu Seth S. , Donatello Robin , Knight Katie , Dhurandhar Emily J.
Published: June 2024

Health at Every Size (HAES) concept promotes health irrespective of weight. This study aimed to determine the correlates of HAES alignment in registered dietitians (RDs). Of the 246 RDs, 34.1%, 34.6%, 13%, and 18.3% were aligned, somewhat aligned, not aligned with HAES, and unaware of HAES, respectively. Weight blame was lower in RDs aligned with HAES than among others (P = .001). Alignment with HAES was not associated with body mass index, prior weight bias training, practicing weight management, or implicit weight bias (P > .05). Understanding the correlates of HAES in RDs is important for the care of individuals with higher weight.
Comparison of COVID-19 Hospitalization and Death Between Solid Organ Transplant Recipients and the General Population in Canada, 2020–2022
Authors: Naylor Kyla L. , Knoll Gregory A. , Treleaven Darin , Kang Yuguang , Garg Amit X. , Stirling Kathryn , Kim S. Joseph
Published: June 2024

Background.

Solid organ transplant recipients have a high risk of severe outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infection. A comprehensive understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across multiple waves in the solid organ transplant population and how this compares to the general population is limited. We conducted a population-based cohort study using linked administrative healthcare databases from Ontario, Canada to answer this question.

Methods.

We included 15 306 solid organ transplant recipients and 12 160 904 individuals from the general population. Our primary outcome was the rate (per 100 person-years) of severe COVID-19 (ie, hospitalization or death with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test) occurring between January 25, 2020, and November 30, 2022.

Results.

Compared with the general population, solid organ transplant recipients had almost a 6 times higher rate of severe COVID-19 (20.39 versus 3.44 per 100 person-years), with almost 5.5 times as high a rate of death alone (4.19 versus 0.77 per 100 person-years). Transplant recipients with severe COVID-19 were substantially younger (60.1 versus 66.5 y) and had more comorbidities. The rate of severe COVID-19 declined over time in the solid organ transplant population, with an incidence rate of 41.25 per 100 person-years in the first wave (January 25, 2020, to August 31, 2020) and 18.41 in the seventh wave (June 19, 2022, to November 30, 2022, Omicron era).

Conclusions.

Solid organ transplant recipients remain at high risk of severe outcomes when they are infected with SARS-CoV-2. Resources and strategies to mitigate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 exposure are needed in this vulnerable patient population.
Predictive Value of Preoperative Pain Sketches in Lower Extremity Amputees Undergoing Secondary Targeted Muscle Reinnervation for Treatment of Neuropathic Pain
Authors: Raasveld Floris V , Hao David , Gomez-Eslava Barbara , Hwang Charles D , Valerio Ian L , Eberlin Kyle R
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND:

Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) is an effective surgical treatment for neuropathic pain in amputees. Qualitative descriptions of pain, depicted by pain sketches, could enhance the understanding of symptomatic improvement after surgery. Our aim is to assess whether preoperative pain sketches, drawn by lower extremity (LE) amputees, can predict surgical outcomes after secondary TMR surgery.

STUDY DESIGN:

Eligible patients were LE amputees who underwent secondary TMR surgery between 2017 and 2023. Pain sketches and pain scores were prospectively collected both before and after surgery. The pain trajectory, as categorized by preoperative pain sketches, was analyzed and assessed for improvement, defined as reaching the minimal clinically important difference. The transition into different pain sketches and the occurrence of phantom drawings were evaluated for their association with improvement.

RESULTS:

Fifty-eight patients were included, of which 18 (31.1%) depicted diffuse pain, 26 (44.8%) depicted focal pain (FP), and 18 (24.1%) depicted radiating pain (RP) in their preoperative sketch. FP sketches were associated with the lowest pre- and postoperative pain scores and most frequently developed into sketches indicating “no pain.” RP sketches were associated with the least pain improvement, the lowest likelihood of achieving the minimal clinically important difference, and were more prevalent in patients with diabetes or depression. RP sketches were associated with phantom drawings; no other sketch types developed into RP sketches at the final follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS:

In LE amputees who underwent secondary TMR, preoperative pain sketches could serve as a helpful tool in predicting pain outcomes. RP sketches seemed to be associated with worse outcomes and FP sketches with the most improvement.
Contemporary Evaluation of Work-Life Integration and Well-Being in US Surgical Residents: A National Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Janczewski Lauren M , Buchheit Joanna T , Golisch Kimberly B , Amortegui Daniela , Mackiewicz Natalia , Eng Joshua S , Turner Patricia L , Johnson Julie K , Bilimoria Karl Y , Hu Yue-Yung
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND:

The demands of surgical training present challenges for work-life integration (WLI). We sought to identify factors associated with work-life conflicts and to understand how programs support WLI.

STUDY DESIGN:

A cross-sectional national survey conducted after the 2020 American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination queried 4 WLI items. Multivariable regression models evaluated factors associated with (1) work-life conflicts and (2) well-being (career dissatisfaction, burnout, thoughts of attrition, and suicidality). Semistructured interviews conducted with faculty and residents from 15 general surgery programs were analyzed to identify strategies for supporting WLI.

RESULTS:

Of 7,233 residents (85.5% response rate), 5,133 had data available on work-life conflicts. A total of 44.3% reported completing noneducational task work at home, 37.6% were dissatisfied with time for personal life (eg hobbies), 51.6% with maintaining healthy habits (eg exercise), and 48.0% with performing routine health maintenance (eg dentist). In multivariable analysis, parents and female residents were more likely to report work-life conflicts (all p < 0.05). After adjusting for other risk factors (eg duty-hour violations and mistreatment), residents with work-life conflicts remained at increased risk for career dissatisfaction, burnout, thoughts of attrition, and suicidality (all p < 0.05). Qualitative analysis revealed interventions for supporting WLI including (1) protecting time for health maintenance (eg therapy), (2) explicitly supporting life outside of work (eg prioritizing time with family), and (3) allowing meaningful autonomy in scheduling (eg planning for major life events).

CONCLUSIONS:

Work-life conflicts are common among surgical residents and are associated with poor resident well-being. Well-designed program-level interventions have the potential to support WLI in surgical residency.
Review of factors affecting virus inactivation in aerosols and droplets
Authors: Longest Alexandra K. , Rockey Nicole C. , Lakdawala Seema S. , Marr Linsey C.
Published: June 2024

The inactivation of viruses in aerosol particles (aerosols) and droplets depends on many factors, but the precise mechanisms of inactivation are not known. The system involves complex physical and biochemical interactions. We reviewed the literature to establish current knowledge about these mechanisms and identify knowledge gaps. We identified 168 relevant papers and grouped results by the following factors: virus type and structure, aerosol or droplet size, temperature, relative humidity (RH) and evaporation, chemical composition of the aerosol or droplet, pH and atmospheric composition. These factors influence the dynamic microenvironment surrounding a virion and thus may affect its inactivation. Results indicate that viruses experience biphasic decay as the carrier aerosols or droplets undergo evaporation and equilibrate with the surrounding air, and their final physical state (liquid, semi-solid or solid) depends on RH. Virus stability, RH and temperature are interrelated, but the effects of RH are multifaceted and still not completely understood. Studies on the impact of pH and atmospheric composition on virus stability have raised new questions that require further exploration. The frequent practice of studying virus inactivation in large droplets and culture media may limit our understanding of inactivation mechanisms that are relevant for transmission, so we encourage the use of particles of physiologically relevant size and composition in future research.
The cytosolic form of dual localized BolA family protein Bol3 is important for adaptation to iron starvation in
Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Oberegger Simon , Misslinger Matthias , Faserl Klaus , Sarg Bettina , Farhan Hesso , Haas Hubertus
Published: June 2024

Aspergillus fumigatus
is the predominant mould pathogen for humans. Adaption to host-imposed iron limitation has previously been demonstrated to be essential for its virulence. [2Fe–2S] clusters are crucial as cofactors of several metabolic pathways and mediate cytosolic/nuclear iron sensing in fungi including
A. fumigatus
. [2Fe–2S] cluster trafficking has been shown to involve BolA family proteins in both mitochondria and the cytosol/nucleus. Interestingly, both
A. fumigatus
homologues, termed Bol1 and Bol3, possess mitochondrial targeting sequences, suggesting the lack of cytosolic/nuclear versions. Here, we show by the combination of mutational, proteomic and fluorescence microscopic analyses that expression of the Bol3 encoding gene leads to dual localization of gene products to mitochondria and the cytosol/nucleus via alternative translation initiation downstream of the mitochondrial targeting sequence, which appears to be highly conserved in various
Aspergillus
species. Lack of either mitochondrial Bol1 or Bol3 was phenotypically inconspicuous while lack of cytosolic/nuclear Bol3 impaired growth during iron limitation but not iron sensing which indicates a particular importance of [2Fe–2S] cluster trafficking during iron limitation. Remarkably, cytosolic/nuclear Bol3 differs from the mitochondrial version only by N-terminal acetylation, a finding that was only possible by mutational hypothesis testing.
The role of morphology in novel word learning: a registered report
Authors: Solaja Olga , Crepaldi Davide
Published: June 2024

The majority of the new words that we learn every day as adults are morphologically complex; yet, we do not know much about the role of morphology in novel word learning. In this study, we tackle this issue by comparing the learning of: (i) suffixed novel words (e.g.
flibness
); (ii) novel words that end in non-morphological, but frequent letter chunks (e.g.
fliban
); and (iii) novel words with non-morphological, low-frequency endings (e.g.
flibov
). Words are learned incidentally through sentence reading, while the participants’ eye movements are monitored. We show that morphology has a facilitatory role compared with the other two types of novel words, both during learning and in a post-learning recognition memory task. We also showed that participants attributed meaning to word parts (if
flibness
is a state of happiness, then
flib
must mean happy), but this process was not specifically triggered by the presence of a suffix (
flib
must also mean happy in
fliban
and
flibov
), thus suggesting that the brain tends to assume similar meanings for similar words and word parts.
Forces in interacting ferromagnetic conductors subjected to electrical currents and magnetic fields
Authors: Magda Geoffrey , Charkaluk Eric , Triantafyllidis Nicolas
Published: June 2024

We revisit the classical problem of Lorentz forces exerted on conductors subjected simultaneously to electrical currents and external magnetic fields within the framework of magnetostatics, i.e. when all field quantities are time-independent. In contrast to the well-known results pertaining to non-magnetic materials, we consider here ferromagnetic materials and study the influence of the magnetic constitutive law on the forces exerted on these conductors. Following the general setting for the coupled magnetoelastic boundary value problem in three dimensions (Lagrangian and Eulerian descriptions), we restrict attention to the two-dimensional problem of a single, two or many interacting parallel conductors of infinite extent and circular sections. Both analytical and numerical (FEM) results are presented. For a single conductor, where the magnetic properties do not influence the force exerted, we calculate the magnetization and magnetic stress fields; analytically for the linear magnetic response and numerically for the general nonlinear case with saturation. For two parallel conductors, the magnetic properties affect significantly the Lorentz forces when the conductors are placed close to each other, as the magnetic fields outside them are strongly influenced by the conductors’ magnetic response. For the case of an infinite array of parallel conductors, there is no influence of their magnetic properties on the Lorentz forces when same direction currents are applied, while only a small magnetic effect is found for currents applied in alternating directions, even for closely spaced conductors.
Enhanced wave transmission in random media with mirror symmetry
Authors: Borcea L. , Garnier J.
Published: June 2024

We present an analysis of enhanced wave transmission through random media with mirror symmetry about a reflecting barrier. The mathematical model is the acoustic wave equation, and we consider two setups, where the wave propagation is along a preferred direction: in a randomly layered medium and in a randomly perturbed waveguide. We use the asymptotic stochastic theory of wave propagation in random media to characterize the statistical moments of the frequency-dependent random transmission and reflection coefficients, which are scalar-valued in layered media and matrix-valued in waveguides. With these moments, we can quantify explicitly the enhancement of the net mean transmitted intensity, induced by wave interference near the barrier.
Physical constraints during Snowball Earth drive the evolution of multicellularity
Authors: Crockett William W. , Shaw Jack O. , Simpson Carl , Kempes Christopher P.
Published: June 2024

Molecular and fossil evidence suggests that complex eukaryotic multicellularity evolved during the late Neoproterozoic era, coincident with Snowball Earth glaciations, where ice sheets covered most of the globe. During this period, environmental conditions—such as seawater temperature and the availability of photosynthetically active light in the oceans–likely changed dramatically. Such changes would have had significant effects on both resource availability and optimal phenotypes. Here, we construct and apply mechanistic models to explore (i) how environmental changes during Snowball Earth and biophysical constraints generated selective pressures, and (ii) how these pressures may have had differential effects on organisms with different forms of biological organization. By testing a series of alternative—and commonly debated—hypotheses, we demonstrate how multicellularity was likely acquired differently in eukaryotes and prokaryotes owing to selective differences on their size due to the biophysical and metabolic regimes they inhabit: decreasing temperatures and resource availability instigated by the onset of glaciations generated selective pressures towards smaller sizes in organisms in the diffusive regime and towards larger sizes in motile heterotrophs. These results suggest that changing environmental conditions during Snowball Earth glaciations gave multicellular eukaryotes an evolutionary advantage, paving the way for the complex multicellular lineages that followed.
Identifying conceptual neural responses to symbolic numerals
Authors: Retter Talia L. , Eraßmy Lucas , Schiltz Christine
Published: June 2024

The goal of measuring conceptual processing in numerical cognition is distanced by the possibility that neural responses to symbolic numerals are influenced by physical stimulus confounds. Here, we targeted conceptual responses to parity (even versus odd), using electroencephalogram (EEG) frequency-tagging with a symmetry/asymmetry design. Arabic numerals (2–9) were presented at 7.5 Hz in 50 s sequences; odd and even numbers were alternated to target differential, ‘asymmetry’ responses to parity at 3.75 Hz (7.5 Hz/2). Parity responses were probed with four different stimulus sets, increasing in intra-numeral stimulus variability, and with two control conditions composed of non-conceptual numeral alternations. Significant asymmetry responses were found over the occipitotemporal cortex to all conditions, even for the arbitrary controls. The large physical-differences control condition elicited the largest response in the stimulus set with the lowest variability (one font). Only in the stimulus set with the highest variability (20 drawn, coloured exemplars/numeral) did the response to parity surpass both control conditions. These findings show that physical differences across small sets of Arabic numerals can strongly influence, and even account for, automatic brain responses. However, carefully designed control conditions and highly variable stimulus sets may be used towards identifying truly conceptual neural responses.
Microbial Infection among SARS-COV-2 Infected Patients in a COVID-19 dedicated tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh: a Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Islam A N M Shamsul , Khanam Fahmida , Farhana Nasreen , Choudhury Rafaat , Jahan Naznin Akter , Uddin Mohammad Jamal , Refat Md. Nazmul Hassan , Nasreen Fatima
Published: June 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to determine patterns of respiratory, blood-borne, and uropathogenic microbial pathogens among SARS-CoV-2 infected patients in a COVID-19 dedicated hospital in Bangladesh.

Design:  Cross-sectional study
Setting: In a COVID-19 dedicated tertiary care Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh conducted from March to June 2021
Participants:  Hospitalized COVID 19 infected patients irrespective of age and sex
Primary and secondary outcome measures: Primary outcome measures were proportion of co-infection in COVID-19 patients and characterization of microbes causing co-infection. Secondary outcome measures were to find out if there is any relation between co-infection and age, co-infection and sex, co-infection and comorbidity.
Interventions: not applicable
Results:
Out of 79 patients, 61% were male, mean age was 49.53 years. Co-infection was seen in 7.7% patients and out of which 5.1% of isolates were from urine sample, followed by 2.6% from blood.  Bacteria isolated from urine were Enterococci (2.6%), coagulase negative Staphylococcus CONS (1.3%), and Enterobacter spp. (1.3%). Pseudomonas spp. was found in blood sample. Mixed growth was found in NS and TS with predominant species being Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp. At the time the data was collected, 55.7% of patients had been given antimicrobials, and 30.4% of patients had been given a single antimicrobial. HBsAg was positive in 1.3% patients. None were anti HCV or Dengue NS1Ag positive.
Conclusion: Microbial infection has been seen to be associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections and is of great value in prescribing antimicrobial and reducing fatal outcomes of hospitalized patients.
H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b avian influenza viruses replicate in differentiated bovine airway epithelial cells cultured at air-liquid interface
Authors: Bordes Luca , Gerhards Nora M. , Peters Stan , van Oort Sophie , Roose Marit , Dresken Romy , Venema Sandra , Vrieling Manouk , Engelsma Marc , van der Poel Wim H.M. , de Swart Rik L.
Published: June 2024

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 viruses are responsible for disease outbreaks in wild birds and poultry, resulting in devastating losses to the poultry sector. Since 2020, an increasing number of outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 was seen in wild birds. Infections in mammals have become more common, in most cases in carnivores after direct contact with infected birds. Although ruminants were previously not considered a host species for HPAI viruses, in March 2024 multiple outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 were detected in goats and cattle in the United States. Here, we have used primary bronchus-derived well-differentiated bovine airway epithelial cells (WD-AECs) cultured at air-liquid interface to assess the susceptibility and permissiveness of bovine epithelial cells to infection with European H5N1 virus isolates. We inoculated bovine WD-AECs with three low-passage HPAI clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 virus isolates and detected rapid increases in viral genome loads and infectious virus during the first 24 h post-inoculation, without substantial cytopathogenic effects. Three days post-inoculation infected cells were still detectable by immunofluorescent staining. These data indicate that multiple lineages of HPAI H5N1 may have the propensity to infect the respiratory tract of cattle and support extension of avian influenza surveillance efforts to ruminants. Furthermore, this study underscores the benefit of WD-AEC cultures for pandemic preparedness by providing a rapid and animal-free assessment of the host range of an emerging pathogen.
The efficacy of Tripterygium Glycosides in the treatment of Chinese patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Mingzhe , Wei Bingchen , Gao Tianshu , Gao Chenghan
Published: June 2024

Objective

This study aims to conduct a systematic review of the effectiveness and safety of Tripterygium Glycosides interventions in the treatment of Chinese patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO).

Methods

A literature search was conducted using PubMed for English sources, and the CNKI, Chinese Biomedical Database, Wanfang Database, and VIP Database for Chinese sources. The search period extended from the beginning of the databases’ creation to Dec. 2023. The keywords used in the search were hyperthyroidism, thyroid-related immune orbitopathy (TRIO), ophthalmopathy, and Tripterygium Glycosides. Various combinations of search terms were used, depending on the database being queried. All the trials included in the study were clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Results

33 RCTs or quasi-RCTs that met the inclusion criteria were included. The meta-analysis included 27 RCTs. 6 RCTs were excluded from the analysis due to the absence of a control group, but they were still included in the systematic review. 27 RCTs or quasi-RCTs involving 2,134 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The TRIO patients in the treatment group received Tripterygium Glycosides in combination with Thiamazole, Prednisone, Levothyroxine sodium, or a combination of these medications. While the TRIO patients in the control group were treated with Thiamazole, Prednisone, Levothyroxine sodium, or a combination of these treatments, the meta-analysis results show that the overall effectiveness rate of the treatment group and the control group wasP= 0.05, I2= 0.33 < 0.5 [MD = 4.45, 95% CI (3.31, 5.99),P< 0. 00001]. The former was significantly superior to the latter. At the same time, a risk assessment was conducted for the study of the 2 groups. The former was significantly superior to the latter. Furthermore, the clinical effectiveness rate of eyeball prominence wasP< 0. 00001, I2= 0.98 > 0.5 [MD = 2.40, 95% CI (2.28, 2.51),P< 0. 00001]. The clinical effectiveness rate of CAS score wasP< 0. 00001, I2= 0.89 > 0.5 [MD = 1.68, 95% CI (1.50, 1.85),P< 0. 00001]. The clinical effectiveness rate of FT3wasP< 0. 00001, I2= 0.98 > 0.5 [MD = 0.95, 95% CI (0.81, 1.08),P< 0. 00001], the clinical effectiveness rate of FT4wasP< 0. 00001, I2= 0.95 > 0.5 [MD = 2.12, 95% CI (1.99, 2.25),P< 0. 00001], and the clinical effectiveness rate of TSH wasP< 0. 00001, I2= 0.89 > 0.5 [MD = −0.19, 95% CI (−0.21, −0.17),P< 0. 00001].

Conclusion

The experience with the treatment of TAO using Tripterygium Glycosides was promising. The existing evidence suggests that treatment with Tripterygium Glycosides may be more effective in enhancing the response rate, quality of life, and FT3levels compared to treatment with Prednisone, Levothyroxine sodium, and/or Thiamazole alone.
Islet-antigen reactive B cells display a unique phenotype and BCR repertoire in autoantibody positive and recent-onset type 1 diabetes patients
Authors: Nicholas Catherine A. , Tensun Fatima A. , Evans Spencer A. , Toole Kevin P. , Broncucia Hali , Hesselberth Jay R. , Gottlieb Peter A. , Wells Kristen L. , Smith Mia J.
Published: June 2024

Autoreactive B cells play an important but ill-defined role in autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D). To better understand their contribution, we performed single cell gene and BCR-seq analysis on pancreatic islet antigen-reactive (IAR) B cells from the peripheral blood of nondiabetic (ND), autoantibody positive prediabetic (AAB), and recent-onset T1D individuals. We found that the frequency of IAR B cells was increased in AAB and T1D. IAR B cells from these donors had altered expression of B cell signaling, pro-inflammatory, infection, and antigen processing and presentation genes. Both AAB and T1D donors demonstrated a significant increase in certain heavy and light chain V genes, and these V genes were enriched in islet-reactivity. Public clones of IAR B cells were restricted almost entirely to AAB and T1D donors. IAR B cells were clonally expanded in the autoimmune donors, particularly the AAB group. Notably, a substantial fraction of IAR B cells in AAB and T1D donors appeared to be polyreactive, which was corroborated by analysis of recombinant monoclonal antibodies. These results expand our understanding of autoreactive B cell activation during T1D and identify unique BCR repertoire changes that may serve as biomarkers for increased disease risk.

One Sentence Summary

Pancreatic islet antigen-reactive B cells from individuals with prediabetes and recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes display a unique phenotype and BCR repertoire compared to non-diabetic donors.
Slow and steady: auditory features for discriminating animal vocalizations
Authors: Di Tullio Ronald W. , Wei Linran , Balasubramanian Vijay
Published: June 2024

We propose that listeners can use temporal regularities – spectro-temporal correlations that change smoothly over time – to discriminate animal vocalizations within and between species. To test this idea, we used Slow Feature Analysis (SFA) to find the most temporally regular components of vocalizations from birds (blue jay, house finch, American yellow warbler, and great blue heron), humans (English speakers), and rhesus macaques. We projected vocalizations into the learned feature space and tested intra-class (same speaker/species) and inter-class (different speakers/species) auditory discrimination by a trained classifier. We found that: 1) Vocalization discrimination was excellent (>95%) in all cases; 2) Performance depended primarily on the ∼10 most temporally regular features; 3) Most vocalizations are dominated by ∼10 features with high temporal regularity; and 4) These regular features are highly correlated with the most predictable components of animal sounds.
Using fingerprinting as a testbed for strategies to improve reproducibility of functional connectivity
Authors: Ramduny Jivesh , Vanderwal Tamara , Kelly Clare
Published: June 2024

Reproducible functional connectivity-based biomarkers have remained elusive despite the promise of deeply phenotyped consortia. An important component of reproducibility is reliability over repeated measures, often measured by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Here, we test the use of functional connectome fingerprinting as a way to select pre- and post-processing parameters. We hypothesized that whichever parameters yielded the best fingerprint accuracies would also improve the ICC across scans. Using five datasets from the Consortium for Replicability and Reproducibility, we found that higher identification accuracies were achieved when using: (I) global signal regression; (II) finer brain parcellations; (III) cortical regions compared to subcortical and cerebellar structures; (IV) medial frontal and frontoparietal networks relative to the whole-brain; (V) discriminative edges; (VI) longer scan duration; and (VII) lower sample size. We observed that the ICC was consistently "poor" across the five datasets even with the application of two optimal fingerprint-informed pipelines. The fingerprint-informed pipelines may enable comparison, benchmarking, and adjudication of functional connectivity-based analysis pipelines or novel analytic approaches, as a means to enhance their reproducibility in heterogeneous populations.
Automatic semantic segmentation of the osseous structures of the paranasal sinuses
Authors: Sun Yichun , Guerrero-López Alejandro , Arias-Londoño Julián D. , Godino-Llorente Juan I.
Published: June 2024

Endoscopic sinus and skull base surgeries require the use of precise neuronavigation techniques, which may take advantage of accurate delimitation of surrounding structures. This delimitation is critical for robotic-assisted surgery procedures to limit volumes of no resection. In this respect, accurate segmentation of the Osseous Structures surrounding the Paranasal Sinuses (OSPS) is a relevant issue to protect critical anatomic structures during these surgeries. Currently, manual segmentation of these structures is a labour-intensive task and requires expertise, often leading to inconsistencies. This is due to the lack of publicly available automatic models specifically tailored for the automatic delineation of the complex OSPS. To address this gap, we introduce an open-source data/model for the segmentation of these complex structures. The initial model was trained on nine complete ex vivo CT scans of the paranasal region and then improved with semi-supervised learning techniques. When tested on an external data set recorded under different conditions and with various scanners, it achieved a DICE score of 94.82±0.9. These results underscore the effectiveness of the model and its potential for broader research applications. By providing both the dataset and the model publicly available, this work aims to catalyse further research that could improve the precision of clinical interventions of endoscopic sinus and skull-based surgeries.
A multimodal fMRI dataset unifying naturalistic processes with a rich array of experimental tasks
Authors: Jung Heejung , Amini Maryam , Hunt Bethany J , Murphy Eilis I , Sadil Patrick , Halchenko Yaroslav O , Petre Bogdan , Miao Zizhuang , Kragel Philip A , Han Xiaochun , Heilicher Mickela O , Sun Michael , Collins Owen G , Lindquist Martin A , Wager Tor D
Published: June 2024

Cognitive neuroscience has advanced significantly due to the availability of openly shared datasets. Large sample sizes, large amounts of data per person, and diversity in tasks and data types are all desirable, but are difficult to achieve in a single dataset. Here, we present an open dataset with N = 101 participants and 6 hours of scanning per participant, with 6 multifaceted cognitive tasks including 2 hours of naturalistic movie viewing. This datasets' combination of ample sample size, extensive data per participant, more than 600 hours worth of data, and a wide range of experimental conditions - including cognitive, affective, social, and somatic/interoceptive tasks - positions it uniquely for probing important questions in cognitive neuroscience.
Scientific note on the potential beneficial effect of 1-octen-3-ol on the survival ofApis melliferachronically exposed to low doses of fipronil
Authors: Fernandes Vincent , Sbaghdi Thania , Suchet Marine , Delbac Frédéric , Blot Nicolas , Bouchard Philippe
Published: June 2024

Fipronil, a non-competitive antagonist of γ-aminobutyric acid receptors (GABA-Rs), inhibits the flow of chloride ions in the nerve cells, leading to the insect death. In a previous work, the volatolome of bees chronically exposed to this insecticide (0.5 and 1μg/L) was analyzed and characterize theApis melliferametabolic responses. Two Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs (1-octen-3-ol and 2,6-dimethylcyclohexanol) produced by bee were highlighted. We assumed that these VOCs could act as modulators of the GABA-R to counteract the effect of fipronil. The toxicity of these VOCs was tested on emerging bees for concentrations ranging from 0 to 3.4μg/L. Survival and the sucrose consumption were recorded during 21 days of chronic exposure. 1-octen-3-ol and 2,6-dimethylcyclohexanol did not significantly affect the proportion of survival at the end of the experiment, whatever their concentration. 1-octen-3-ol (0.5, 1, 1.7 and 3.4μg/L) was chosen to assess its effect in the case of co-exposure with fipronil (0.5 and 1μg/L). A beneficial effect on survival at 21 days was observed with an average improvement in survival rate for the co-exposed groups. This positive effect was not related to the VOC concentration and could be a direct effect (interaction with GABA-R) or a hormetic effect (global improvement of bee fitness).
Understanding indirect assortative mating and its intergenerational consequences
Authors: Sunde Hans Fredrik , Eilertsen Espen Moen , Torvik Fartein Ask
Published: June 2024

Partners tend to have similar levels of education. Previous studies indicate that this is likely due to some form of indirect assortative mating but there is not a consistent understanding of this process. Understanding indirect assortment is crucial for disentangling genetic and environmental contributions to educational attainment and for improving models of intergenerational transmission. We attribute previous inconsistencies to idiosyncratic models and inconsistent use of relevant terms. In this paper, we develop a new framework for understanding indirect assortative mating and provide updated definitions of key terms. We then develop a model (the iAM-ACE-model) that can use partners of twins and siblings to distinguish the degree of assortment on genetic, social, and individual characteristics. We also expand this model to include children of twins and siblings (the iAM-COTS model), allowing us to explain parent-offspring similarity while accounting for indirect assortative mating and gene-environment correlations. We apply the models on educational attainment using 1,529,144 individuals in 209,792 extended families from Norwegian registry data and the Norwegian Twin Registry. The analysis suggests that partner similarity in educational attainment can be explained by strong assortment on sibling-shared environmental factors. The implied genotypic correlation between partners (r =.33) is comparable to earlier studies, and higher than expected under direct assortment. Most of the parent-offspring correlation (r= .33) was attributable to passive genetic transmission (62%), with the rest attributable to passive environmental transmission (23%) and direct phenotypic transmission (15%). Environmental transmission was estimated lower in alternative models that assumed direct assortment, but these did not fit the data well.
Optimal implementation of genomic selection in clone breeding programs - exemplified in potato: II. Effect of selection strategy and cross-selection method on long-term genetic gain
Authors: Wu Po-Ya , Stich Benjamin , Hartje Stefanie , Muders Katja , Prigge Vanessa , Van Inghelandt Delphine
Published: June 2024

Different cross-selection (CS) methods incorporating genomic selection (GS) have been used in diploid species to improve long-term genetic gain and preserve diversity. However, their application to heterozygous and autotetraploid crops such as potato is lacking so far. The objectives of our study were to (i) assess how different CS methods incorporating GS with or without consideration of genetic variability affect both short- and long-term genetic gains compared to strategies using phenotypic selection (PS); (ii) evaluate the changes in genetic variability and the efficiency of converting diversity into genetic gain across different CS methods; and (iii) investigate the interaction effects between different genetic architectures and CS methods on long-term genetic gain. In our simulation results, implementing GS with optimal selection intensities had a higher short- and long-term genetic gain compared to any PS strategy. The CS method considering additive and dominance effects to predict progeny mean based on simulated progenies (MEGV-O) reached the highest long-term genetic gain among the assessed mean-based CS methods. Compared to MEGV-O and usefulness criteria (UC), the linear combination of UC and genome-wide diversity (called EUCD) kept the same level of genetic gain but resulted in a higher diversity and a lower number of fixed QTL. Moreover, EUCD had a relatively high efficiency in converting diversity into genetic gain. However, choosing the most appropriate weight to account for diversity in EUCD depends on the genetic architecture of the target trait and the breeder’s objectives. Our results provide breeders with concrete methods to improve their potato breeding programs.

Key message

Cross-selection method considering progeny mean performance and genetic variability can improve long-term genetic gain and keep genetic diversity in clone breeding.