bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Enhanced High-Volume Preparation for Colonoscopy Is Not Better Than a Conventional Low-Volume One in Patients at Risk of Poor Bowel Cleansing: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Gimeno-García Antonio Z. , Hernández Goretti , Baute Dorta José Luis , Reygosa Cristina , de la Barreda Raquel , Hernandez-Bustabad Alberto , Amaral Carla , Cedrés Yaiza , del Castillo Rocío , Nicolás-Pérez David , Jiménez Alejandro , Alarcon-Fernández Onofre , Hernandez-Guerra Manuel , Romero Rafael , Alonso Inmaculada , González Yanira , Adrian Zaida , Hernandez Domingo , Ramos Laura , Carrillo Marta , Felipe Vanessa , Hernández Anjara , Rodríguez-Jiménez Consuelo , Quintero Enrique
Published: March 2021

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that an enhanced bowel preparation strategy (EBS) improves colonic cleansing in patients at high risk for inadequate bowel cleansing (HRI).

Methods: This prospective randomized clinical trial included consecutive HRI patients referred for outpatient colonoscopy between February and October 2019. HRI was considered if patients scored >1.225 according to a previously validated bowel-cleansing predictive score. HRI patients were randomized (1:1) to a low-volume conventional bowel cleansing strategy (CBS) (1-day low residue diet (LRD) plus 2 L of polyethylene glycol (PEG) plus ascorbic acid) or to an EBS (3-day LRD plus 10 mg oral bisacodyl plus 4 L PEG). The Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) was used to assess the quality of cleanliness. Intention-to-treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analyses were performed. A sample size of 130 patients per group was estimated to reach a 15% difference in favor of EBP.

Results: A total of 253 HRI patients were included (mean age 69.8 ± 9.5 years, 51.8% women). No statistically significant differences were found in the BBPS scale between the two groups in the ITT analysis (CBS 76.8% vs. EBS 79.7%, P = 0.58) or PP analysis (CBS 78% vs. EBS 84.3%, P = 0.21), risk difference 2.9% (95% CI−7.26 to 39.16) in the ITT analysis, or risk difference 6.3% (95% CI−3.48 to 16.08) in PP analysis. No differences in preparation tolerance, compliance, adverse effects, or colonoscopy findings were found.

Conclusion: EBS is not superior to CBS in hard-to-prepare patients. (EUDRACT: 2017-000787-15, NCT03830489).

Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03830489.
Seed Banks as Incidental Fungi Banks: Fungal Endophyte Diversity in Stored Seeds of Banana Wild Relatives
Authors: Hill Rowena , Llewellyn Theo , Downes Elizabeth , Oddy Joseph , MacIntosh Catriona , Kallow Simon , Panis Bart , Dickie John B. , Gaya Ester
Published: March 2021

Seed banks were first established to conserve crop genetic diversity, but seed banking has more recently been extended to wild plants, particularly crop wild relatives (CWRs) (e.g., by the Millennium Seed Bank (MSB), Royal Botanic Gardens Kew). CWRs have been recognised as potential reservoirs of beneficial traits for our domesticated crops, and with mounting evidence of the importance of the microbiome to organismal health, it follows that the microbial communities of wild relatives could also be a valuable resource for crop resilience to environmental and pathogenic threats. Endophytic fungi reside asymptomatically inside all plant tissues and have been found to confer advantages to their plant host. Preserving the natural microbial diversity of plants could therefore represent an important secondary conservation role of seed banks. At the same time, species that are reported as endophytes may also be latent pathogens. We explored the potential of the MSB as an incidental fungal endophyte bank by assessing diversity of fungi inside stored seeds. Using banana CWRs in the genus Musa as a case-study, we sequenced an extended ITS-LSU fragment in order to delimit operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and used a similarity and phylogenetics approach for classification. Fungi were successfully detected inside just under one third of the seeds, with a few genera accounting for most of the OTUs–primarily Lasiodiplodia, Fusarium, and Aspergillus–while a large variety of rare OTUs from across the Ascomycota were isolated only once. Fusarium species were notably abundant–of significance in light of Fusarium wilt, a disease threatening global banana crops–and so were targeted for additional sequencing with the marker EF1α in order to delimit species and place them in a phylogeny of the genus. Endophyte community composition, diversity and abundance was significantly different across habitats, and we explored the relationship between community differences and seed germination/viability. Our results show that there is a previously neglected invisible fungal dimension to seed banking that could well have implications for the seed collection and storage procedures, and that collections such as the MSB are indeed a novel source of potentially useful fungal strains.
The P1 Protein of Watermelon mosaic virus Compromises the Activity as RNA Silencing Suppressor of the P25 Protein of Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus
Authors: Domingo-Calap Maria Luisa , Chase Ornela , Estapé Mariona , Moreno Ana Beatriz , López-Moya Juan José
Published: March 2021

Mixed viral infections in plants involving a potyvirus and other unrelated virus often result in synergistic effects, with significant increases in accumulation of the non-potyvirus partner, as in the case of melon plants infected by the potyvirus Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) and the crinivirus Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV). To further explore the synergistic interaction between these two viruses, the activity of RNA silencing suppressors (RSSs) was addressed in transiently co-expressed combinations of heterologous viral products in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. While the strong RSS activity of WMV Helper Component Proteinase (HCPro) was unaltered, including no evident additive effects observed when co-expressed with the weaker CYSDV P25, an unexpected negative effect of WMV P1 was found on the RSS activity of P25. Analysis of protein expression during the assays showed that the amount of P25 was not reduced when co-expressed with P1. The detrimental action of P1 on the activity of P25 was dose-dependent, and the subcellular localization of fluorescently labeled variants of P1 and P25 when transiently co-expressed showed coincidences both in nucleus and cytoplasm. Also, immunoprecipitation experiments showed interaction of tagged versions of the two proteins. This novel interaction, not previously described in other combinations of potyviruses and criniviruses, might play a role in modulating the complexities of the response to multiple viral infections in susceptible plants.
IGF2BP1, a Conserved Regulator of RNA Turnover in Cancer
Authors: Glaß Markus , Misiak Danny , Bley Nadine , Müller Simon , Hagemann Sven , Busch Bianca , Rausch Alexander , Hüttelmaier Stefan
Published: March 2021

The oncofetal IGF2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) promotes tumor progression in a variety of solid tumors and its expression is associated with adverse prognosis. The main role proposed for IGF2BP1 in cancer cells is the stabilization of mRNAs encoding pro-oncogenic factors. Several IGF2BP1-RNA association studies, however, revealed a plethora of putative IGF2BP1-RNA targets. Thus, at present the main conserved target RNAs and pathways controlled by IGF2BP1 in cancer remain elusive. In this study, we present a set of genes and cancer hallmark pathways showing a conserved pattern of deregulation in dependence of IGF2BP1 expression in cancer cell lines. By the integrative analysis of these findings with publicly available cancer transcriptome and IGF2BP1-RNA association data, we compiled a set of prime candidate target mRNAs. These analyses confirm a pivotal role of IGF2BP1 in controlling cancer cell cycle progression and reveal novel cancer hallmark pathways influenced by IGF2BP1. For three novel target mRNAs identified by these studies, namely AURKA, HDLBP and YWHAZ, we confirm IGF2BP1 mRNA stabilization. In sum our findings confirm and expand previous findings on the pivotal role of IGF2BP1 in promoting oncogenic gene expression by stabilizing target mRNAs in a mainly 3’UTR, m6A-, miRNA-, and potentially AU-rich element dependent manner.
The Analysis of Trajectory Control of Non-holonomic Mobile Robots Based on Internet of Things Target Image Enhancement Technology and Backpropagation Neural Network
Authors: Zhao Lanfei , Wang Ganlin , Fan Xiaosong , Li Yufei
Published: March 2021

The trajectory tracking and control of incomplete mobile robots are explored to improve the accuracy of the trajectory tracking of the robot controller. First, the mathematical kinematics model of the non-holonomic mobile robot is studied. Then, the improved Backpropagation Neural Network (BPNN) is applied to the robot controller. On this basis, a mobile robot trajectory tracking controller combining the fuzzy algorithm and the neural network is designed to control the linear velocity and angular velocity of the mobile robot. Finally, the robot target image can be analyzed effectively based on the Internet of Things (IoT) image enhancement technology. In the MATLAB environment, the performances of traditional BPNN and improved BPNN in mobile robots' trajectory tracking are compared. The tracking accuracy before and after the improvement shows no apparent differences; however, the training speed of improved BPNN is significantly accelerated. The fuzzy-BPNN controller presents significant improvements in tracking speed and tracking accuracy compared with the improved BPNN. The trajectory tracking controller of the mobile robot is designed and improved based on the fuzzy BPNN. The designed controller combining the fuzzy algorithm and the improved BPNN can provide higher accuracy and tracking efficiency for the trajectory tracking and control of the non-holonomic mobile robots.
Neurologic Assessment of the Neurocritical Care Patient
Authors: Musick Shane , Alberico Anthony
Published: March 2021

Sedation is a ubiquitous practice in ICUs and NCCUs. It has the benefit of reducing cerebral energy demands, but also precludes an accurate neurologic assessment. Because of this, sedation is intermittently stopped for the purposes of a neurologic assessment, which is termed a neurologic wake-up test (NWT). NWTs are considered to be the gold-standard in continued assessment of brain-injured patients under sedation. NWTs also produce an acute stress response that is accompanied by elevations in blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate, and ICP. Utilization of cerebral microdialysis and brain tissue oxygen monitoring in small cohorts of brain-injured patients suggests that this is not mirrored by alterations in cerebral metabolism, and seldom affects oxygenation. The hard contraindications for the NWT are preexisting intracranial hypertension, barbiturate treatment, status epilepticus, and hyperthermia. However, hemodynamic instability, sedative use for primary ICP control, and sedative use for severe agitation or respiratory distress are considered significant safety concerns. Despite ubiquitous recommendation, it is not clear if additional clinically relevant information is gleaned through its use, especially with the contemporaneous utilization of multimodality monitoring. Various monitoring modalities provide unique and pertinent information about neurologic function, however, their role in improving patient outcomes and guiding treatment plans has not been fully elucidated. There is a paucity of information pertaining to the optimal frequency of NWTs, and if it differs based on type of injury. Only one concrete recommendation was found in the literature, exemplifying the uncertainty surrounding its utility. The most common sedative used and recommended is propofol because of its rapid onset, short duration, and reduction of cerebral energy requirements. Dexmedetomidine may be employed to facilitate serial NWTs, and should always be used in the non-intubated patient or if propofol infusion syndrome (PRIS) develops. Midazolam is not recommended due to tissue accumulation and residual sedation confounding a reliable NWT. Thus, NWTs are well-tolerated in selected patients and remain recommended as the gold-standard for continued neuromonitoring. Predicated upon one expert panel, they should be performed at least one time per day. Propofol or dexmedetomidine are the main sedative choices, both enabling a rapid awakening and consistent NWT.
The Cost Effectiveness of Immunoglobulin vs. Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for CIDP
Authors: Burt Richard K. , Tappenden Paul , Balabanov Roumen , Han Xiaoqiang , Quigley Kathleen , Snowden John A. , Sharrack Basil
Published: March 2021

Background: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is effective as standard first line therapy for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), but some patients remain dependent on its long-term use. Recently, we have reported that autologous non-myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an effective second line therapy for CIDP.

Objectives: To compare the cost of chronic IVIG vs. autologous HSCT (a one-time therapy), we collected data on patients with CIDP undergoing HSCT between 2017 and 2019. This was compared with published literature on the costs and efficacy defined by the Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause And Treatment (INCAT) disability score, Medical Research Council (MRC) sum score, hand grip strength, and SF-36 quality of life (QOL) for CIDP.

Methods: Between 2017 and 2019, nineteen patients with chronic CIDP (mean disease treatment duration prior to HSCT of 6 years) underwent autologous HSCT with mean cost of $108,577 per patient (range $56,327–277,119, standard deviation $53,092). After HSCT, 80% of patients remain IVIG and immune treatment free for up to 5 years. In comparison, published cost of IVIG treatment in the USA for an average CIDP patient exceeds $136,000 per year. Despite remaining treatment free, HSCT demonstrated greater improvement in efficacy compared to immunoglobulins.

Recommendations: Given the long-term treatment-free remission and better outcome measurements, autologous HSCT is more cost effective than long-term IVIG treatment in patients with chronic CIDP. However, costs will depend on patient selection, the HSCT regimen, and regional variations. Further analysis of the health economics, i.e., cost/outcome ratio, of HSCT as therapy for chronically IVIG dependent CIDP is warranted.
Treatment Outcomes of 9,994 Patients With Extensive-Disease Small-Cell Lung Cancer From a Retrospective Nationwide Population-Based Cohort in the Korean HIRA Database
Authors: Lee Jung Soo , Kim Seoree , Sung Soo-Yoon , Kim Yeo Hyung , Lee Hyun Woo , Hong Ji Hyung , Ko Yoon Ho
Published: March 2021

To investigate the efficacy of irinotecan-based (IP) and etoposide-based (EP) platinum combinations, and of single-agent chemotherapy, for treatment of extensive-disease small cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC), we performed a large-scale, retrospective, nationwide, cohort study. The population data were extracted from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service of Korea database from January 1, 2008, to November 30, 2016. A total of 9,994 patients were allocated to ED-SCLC and analyzed in this study. The primary objectives were to evaluate the survival outcomes of systemic first-line treatments for ED-SCLC. For first-line treatment, patients who received IP showed a better time to first subsequent therapy (TFST) of 8.9 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.50–9.40) than those who received EP, who had a TFST of 6.8 months (95% CI, 6.77–6.97, P < 0.0001). In terms of overall survival (OS), IP was superior to EP (median OS, 10.8 months; 95% CI, 10.13–11.33 vs. 9.5 months; 95% CI, 9.33–9.73; P < 0.0001). Taken together, in the Korean population, first-line IP combination chemotherapy had significantly favorable effects on OS and TFST.
Prognostic Implication of the Expression Level of PECAM-1 in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Cao Shuhui , Wang Yue , Li Jingwen , Ling Xuxinyi , Zhang Yao , Zhou Yan , Zhong Hua
Published: March 2021

Background:Lung cancer is a malignant disease that threatens human health. Hence, it is crucial to identify effective prognostic factors and treatment targets. Single-cell RNA sequencing can quantify the expression profiles of transcripts in individual cells.

Methods:GSE117570profiles were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Key ligand-receptor genes in the tumor and the normal groups were screened to identify integrated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the GSE118370 and The Cancer Genome Atlas Lung Adenocarcinoma databases. DEGs associated with more ligand-receptor pairs were selected as candidate DEGs for Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, and survival analysis. In addition, we conducted validation immunohistochemical experiments on postoperative specimens of 30 patients with lung cancer.

Results:A total of 18 candidate DEGs were identified from the tumor and the normal groups. The analysis of the GO biological process revealed that these DEGs were mainly enriched in wound healing, in response to wounding, cell migration, cell motility, and regulation of cell motility, while the KEGG pathway analysis found that these DEGs were mainly enriched in proteoglycans in cancer, bladder cancer, malaria, tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), and the ERBB signaling pathway. Survival analysis showed that a high, rather than a low, expression of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) was associated with improved survival. Similarly, in postoperative patients with lung cancer, we found that the overall survival of the PECAM-1 high-expression group shows a better trend than the PECAM-1 low-expression group (p= 0.172).

Conclusions:The candidate DEGs identified in this study may play some important roles in the occurrence and development of lung cancer, especially PECAM-1, which may present potential prognostic biomarkers for the outcome.
The FENDRR/FOXC2 Axis Contributes to Multidrug Resistance in Gastric Cancer and Correlates With Poor Prognosis
Authors: Liu Hao , Zhang Zhe , Han Yanan , Fan Ahui , Liu Haiming , Zhang Xiangyuan , Liu Yanhong , Zhang Rugang , Liu Wanning , Lu Yuanyuan , Fan Daiming , Zhao Xiaodi , Nie Yongzhan
Published: March 2021

The dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and transcription factors (TFs) is closely related to the development and progression of drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy. However, their regulatory interactions in the multidrug resistance (MDR) of gastric cancer (GC) has largely remained unknown. In this study, we report a novel oncogenic role of lncRNA FENDRR in conferring MDR in GC by coordinated regulation of FOXC2 expression at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that downregulation of FENDRR expression remarkably decreased drug resistant ability of GC MDR cells while upregulation of FENDRR expression produced the opposite effect. FENDRR overexpression was observed in MDR GC cell lines, patient-derived xenografts, and clinical samples. And the high levels of FENDRR expression were correlated with poor prognosis in GC patients. Regarding the mechanism, FENDRR was revealed to increase proto-oncogene FOXC2 transcription by performing an enhancer-like role in the nucleus and by sponging miR-4700-3p in the cytoplasm. Both FOXC2 and miR-4700-3p were shown to be functionally involved in the FENDRR-induced chemoresistance. In addition, there is a positive correlation between FENDRR and FOXC2 expression in clinic and the overexpressed FOXC2 indicated a poor prognosis in GC patients. Collectively, our findings provide a new perspective for the lncRNA-TF regulatory interaction involved in MDR, suggesting that targeting the FENDRR/FOXC2 axis may be an effective approach to circumvent GC chemoresistance.
Attitudes and Practices of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Chinese Patients With Cancer: A National Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Zhang Luping , Wang Jun , Zhang Bicheng , Chu Qian , Su Chunxia , Wu Hao , Chen Xiaobing , Wang Baocheng , Yin Yongmei , Zhu Bo , Sun Jianguo
Published: March 2021

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are revolutionizing the field of immuno-oncology. Side effects and tumor microenvironment currently represent the most significant obstacles to using ICIs. In this study, we conducted an extensive cross-sectional survey to investigate the concept and practices regarding the use of ICIs in cancer patients in China. The results provide real-world data on the adverse events (AEs) of ICIs and the factors influencing the use of ICIs. This survey was developed by the Expert Committee on Immuno-Oncology of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO-IO) and the Expert Committee on Patient Education of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO-PE). The surveys were distributed using a web-based platform between November 29, 2019 and December 21, 2019. A total of 1,575 patients were included. High costs (43.9%), uncertainty about drug efficacy (41.2%), and no reimbursement from medical insurance (32.4%) were the factors that prevented the patients from using ICIs. The patients were most concerned about the onset time or effective duration of ICIs (40.3%), followed by the indications of ICIs and pre-use evaluation (33.4%). Moreover, 9.0, 57.1, 21.0, and 12.9% of the patients reported tumor disappearance, tumor volume reduction, no change in tumor volume, and increased tumor volume. Among the patients who received ICIs, 65.7% reported immune-related AEs (irAEs); 96.1% reported mild-to-moderate irAEs. Cancer patients in China had a preliminary understanding of ICIs. Yet, the number of patients treated with ICIs was small.
Comparing the Value of Cystatin C and Serum Creatinine for Evaluating the Renal Function and Predicting the Prognosis of COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Chen Sichao , Li Jinpeng , Liu Zeming , Chen Danyang , Zhou Ling , Hu Di , Li Man , Long Wei , Huang Yihui , Huang Jianglong , Wang Shipei , Li Qianqian , Zeng Wen , Guo Liang , Wu Xiaohui
Published: March 2021

Background: Coronavirus disease- (COVID-19-) related renal function abnormality is associated with poor prognosis. However, the clinical significance of dynamic changes in renal function indicators has not been studied, and no studies have evaluated the renal function in COVID-19 patients by cystatin C.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of abnormal renal function on admission on prognosis of COVID-19 patients and the prognostic value of various renal function indicators.

Methods: A total of 1,764 COVID-19 patients without a history of chronic kidney disease were categorized into two groups, an elevated cystatin C group and a normal cystatin C group, based on the results of renal function tests on admission. The clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups, and logistic or Cox regression analyses were performed to explore the associations between elevated cystatin C/serum creatinine levels and disease severity and survival. We also performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, Kaplan–Meier survival, and curve fitting analyses.

Results: When adjusted for several significant clinical variables, elevated cystatin C levels on admission were independent predictors of disease severity (p < 0.001), and elevated creatinine levels were independent predictors of death (p = 0.020). Additionally, the ROC curve analysis shows that elevated cystatin C levels [area under the curve (AUC): 0.656] have a better predictive value for disease severity than elevated creatinine levels (AUC: 0.540). The survival curves of patients with elevated cystatin C/creatinine levels show a sharper decline than those of patients with normal cystatin C/creatinine levels (p < 0.001). The curve fitting analysis revealed that, compared to the flat curves of cystatin C and creatinine levels for patients who survived, the curves for patients who died kept rising, and cystatin C levels rose above the normal range earlier than creatinine.

Conclusions: Elevated cystatin C, which occurs earlier than serum creatinine, is useful for the early detection of renal function abnormality and might have better predictive value for disease severity in COVID-19 patients, while elevated serum creatinine may have a better predictive value for risks of death.
Social Simulation of Intergroup Conflicts Using a New Model of Opinion Dynamics
Authors: Ishii Akira , Okano Nozomi , Nishikawa Masaru
Published: March 2021

The social identity theory proposed by Tajfel et al. provides insight into how group membership and self-categorization cause intergroup prejudice and discrimination, finally leading to social conflicts. However, unanswered questions remain: under what conditions can an “in-group” and an “out-group” transform conflictual intergroup behavior into a more harmonious relationship and avoid social conflict? Opinion dynamics theory and social simulation are appropriate methods to answer this question. In this study, a new model of opinion dynamics proposed by Ishii is adopted, and we conduct simulations of intergroup conflicts. The new model, along with social simulations, presents how an in-group and an out-group can develop social harmony and avoid social conflict. According to our simulations, when the two groups trust their members 100%, the opinion inside an in-group converges. However, intragroup opinion diverges as trust within the group gets lower. On the other hand, intergroup opinion converges when the intergroup trust is higher than 50%. If intergroup trust is higher than 80%, then the intergroup opinions of the two perfectly overlap. Furthermore, if intragroup trust is 70% and intergroup trust is as low as 50%, the two groups' opinions completely polarize. We also calculated additional cases where intragroup trust was fixed at 70%, but for one-third of an in-group member trust an out-group with various values. Finally, a method to avoid further social crises can be obtained by examining real-world cases of partisan conflicts in recent America.
A Heart Failure-Associated SCN5A Splice Variant Leads to a Reduction in Sodium Current Through Coupled-Gating With the Wild-Type Channel
Authors: Zheng Yang , Wan Xiaoping , Yang Dandan , Ramirez-Navarro Angelina , Liu Haiyan , Fu Ji-Dong , Deschênes Isabelle
Published: March 2021

Nav1.5, encoded by the gene SCN5A, is the predominant voltage-gated sodium channel expressed in the heart. It initiates the cardiac action potential and thus is crucial for normal heart rhythm and function. Dysfunctions in Nav1.5 have been involved in multiple congenital or acquired cardiac pathological conditions such as Brugada syndrome (BrS), Long QT Syndrome Type 3, and heart failure (HF), all of which can lead to sudden cardiac death (SCD) – one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Our lab has previously reported that Nav1.5 forms dimer channels with coupled gating. We also found that Nav1.5 BrS mutants can exert a dominant-negative (DN) effect and impair the function of wildtype (WT) channels through coupled-gating with the WT. It was previously reported that reduction in cardiac sodium currents (INa), observed in HF, could be due to the increased expression of an SCN5A splice variant – E28D, which results in a truncated sodium channel (Nav1.5-G1642X). In this study, we hypothesized that this SCN5A splice variant leads to INa reduction in HF through biophysical coupling with the WT. We showed that Nav1.5-G1642X is a non-functional channel but can interact with the WT, resulting in a DN effect on the WT channel. We found that both WT and the truncated channel Nav1.5-G1642X traffic at the cell surface, suggesting biophysical coupling. Indeed, we found that the DN effect can be abolished by difopein, an inhibitor of the biophysical coupling. Interestingly, the sodium channel polymorphism H558R, which has beneficial effect in HF patients, could also block the DN effect. In summary, the HF-associated splice variant Nav1.5-G1642X suppresses sodium currents in heart failure patients through a mechanism involving coupled-gating with the wildtype sodium channel.
Plasmodesmata-Dependent Intercellular Movement of Bacterial Effectors
Authors: Li Zhongpeng , Variz Haris , Chen Yani , Liu Su-Ling , Aung Kyaw
Published: March 2021

Pathogenic microorganisms deliver protein effectors into host cells to suppress host immune responses. Recent findings reveal that phytopathogens manipulate the function of plant cell-to-cell communication channels known as plasmodesmata (PD) to promote diseases. Several bacterial and filamentous pathogen effectors have been shown to regulate PD in their host cells. A few effectors of filamentous pathogens have been reported to move from the infected cells to neighboring plant cells through PD; however, it is unclear whether bacterial effectors can traffic through PD in plants. In this study, we determined the intercellular movement of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000 effectors between adjoining plant cells in Nicotiana benthamiana. We observed that at least 16 Pst DC3000 effectors have the capacity to move from transformed cells to the surrounding plant cells. The movement of the effectors is largely dependent on their molecular weights. The expression of PD regulators, Arabidopsis PD-located protein PDLP5 and PDLP7, leads to PD closure and inhibits the PD-dependent movement of a bacterial effector in N. benthamiana. Similarly, a 22-amino acid peptide of bacterial flagellin (flg22) treatment induces PD closure and suppresses the movement of a bacterial effector in N. benthamiana. Among the mobile effectors, HopAF1 and HopA1 are localized to the plasma membrane (PM) in plant cells. Interestingly, the PM association of HopAF1 does not negatively affect the PD-dependent movement. Together, our findings demonstrate that bacterial effectors are able to move intercellularly through PD in plants.
Motor Imagery Training of Reaching-to-Grasp Movement Supplemented by a Virtual Environment in an Individual With Congenital Bilateral Transverse Upper-Limb Deficiency
Authors: Mencel Joanna , Jaskólska Anna , Marusiak Jarosław , Kamiński Łukasz , Kurzyński Marek , Wołczowski Andrzej , Jaskólski Artur , Kisiel-Sajewicz Katarzyna
Published: March 2021

This study explored the effect of kinesthetic motor imagery training on reaching-to-grasp movement supplemented by a virtual environment in a patient with congenital bilateral transverse upper-limb deficiency. Based on a theoretical assumption, it is possible to conduct such training in this patient. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether cortical activity related to motor imagery of reaching and motor imagery of grasping of the right upper limb was changed by computer-aided imagery training (CAIT) in a patient who was born without upper limbs compared to a healthy control subject, as characterized by multi-channel electroencephalography (EEG) signals recorded before and 4, 8, and 12 weeks after CAIT. The main task during CAIT was to kinesthetically imagine the execution of reaching-to-grasp movements without any muscle activation, supplemented by computer visualization of movements provided by a special headset. Our experiment showed that CAIT can be conducted in the patient with higher vividness of imagery for reaching than grasping tasks. Our results confirm that CAIT can change brain activation patterns in areas related to motor planning and the execution of reaching and grasping movements, and that the effect was more pronounced in the patient than in the healthy control subject. The results show that CAIT has a different effect on the cortical activity related to the motor imagery of a reaching task than on the cortical activity related to the motor imagery of a grasping task. The change observed in the activation patterns could indicate CAIT-induced neuroplasticity, which could potentially be useful in rehabilitation or brain-computer interface purposes for such patients, especially before and after transplantation. This study was part of a registered experiment (ID: NCT04048083).
The Role of Frustration in Human–Robot Interaction – What Is Needed for a Successful Collaboration?
Authors: Weidemann Alexandra , Rußwinkel Nele
Published: March 2021

To realize a successful and collaborative interaction between human and robots remains a big challenge. Emotional reactions of the user provide crucial information for a successful interaction. These reactions carry key factors to prevent errors and fatal bidirectional misunderstanding. In cases where human–machine interaction does not proceed as expected, negative emotions, like frustration, can arise. Therefore, it is important to identify frustration in a human–machine interaction and to investigate its impact on other influencing factors such as dominance, sense of control and task performance. This paper presents a study that investigates a close cooperative work situation between human and robot, and explore the influence frustration has on the interaction. The task for the participants was to hand over colored balls to two different robot systems (an anthropomorphic robot and a robotic arm). The robot systems had to throw the balls into appropriate baskets. The coordination between human and robot was controlled by various gestures and words by means of trial and error. Participants were divided into two groups, a frustration- (FRUST) and a no frustration- (NOFRUST) group. Frustration was induced by the behavior of the robotic systems which made errors during the ball handover. Subjective and objective methods were used. The sample size of participants wasN= 30 and the study was conducted in a between-subject design. Results show clear differences in perceived frustration in the two condition groups and different behavioral interactions were shown by the participants. Furthermore, frustration has a negative influence on interaction factors such as dominance and sense of control. The study provides important information concerning the influence of frustration on human–robot interaction (HRI) for the requirements of a successful, natural, and social HRI. The results (qualitative and quantitative) are discussed in favor of how a successful und effortless interaction between human and robot can be realized and what relevant factors, like appearance of the robot and influence of frustration on sense of control, have to be regarded.
Social Attention Deficits in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Task Dependence of Objects vs. Faces Observation Bias
Authors: Mouga Susana , Castelhano João , Café Cátia , Sousa Daniela , Duque Frederico , Oliveira Guiomar , Castelo-Branco Miguel
Published: March 2021

Social attention deficits represent a central impairment of patients suffering from autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the nature of such deficits remains controversial. We compared visual attention regarding social (faces) vs. non-social stimuli (objects), in an ecological diagnostic context, in 46 children and adolescents divided in two groups: ASD (N= 23) and typical neurodevelopment (TD) (N= 23), matched for chronological age and intellectual performance. Eye-tracking measures of visual scanning, while exploring and describing scenes from three different tasks from the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), were analyzed: “Description of a Picture,” “Cartoons,” and “Telling a Story from a Book.” Our analyses revealed a three-way interaction between Group, Task, and Social vs. Object Stimuli. We found a striking main effect of group and a task dependence of attentional allocation: while the TD attended first and longer to faces, ASD participants became similar to TD when they were asked to look at pictures while telling a story. Our results suggest that social attention allocation is task dependent, raising the question whether spontaneous attention deficits can be rescued by guiding goal-directed actions.
The Status of Occupational Protection During COVID-19 Pandemic: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice of Healthcare Workers in Endoscopy Units, China
Authors: Tian Yuan , Nian Bixiao , Ma Yongchen , Guo Xinyue , Wang Feng , Rong Long
Published: March 2021

Background: SARS-CoV-2 spreads rapidly around the world, and some patients present gastrointestinal symptoms. The existence of the virus in the gastrointestinal tract makes digestive endoscopy a high-risk operation, which associated with an increased risk of infection rate in healthcare workers. This study aimed at exploring current knowledge, practice and attitudes of healthcare workers in endoscopy units in China regarding the status of occupational protection during COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of a national online survey involving 717 healthcare workers in endoscopy units from 94 medical structures in 24 provinces and municipalities around China was conducted online via a questionnaire platform called Wenjuanxing (wjx.cn). The data were analyzed using correlation approaches, Kruskal-Wallis test for independent samples, and linear regression models.

Results: Most Chinese healthcare workers in endoscopy units had a good knowledge of COVID-19 (median: 10; range: 7–12), showed a strikingly positive attitude (median: 65; range: 39–65), and carried out good practice (median: 47; range: 14–50) in strengthening the protection, disinfection and management of COVID-19. In terms of attitudes, female staff was more concerned about protection against COVID-19 than male staff (KW = 8.146, P = 0.004). Nurses performed better in both attitude (KW = 2.600, P = 0.009) and practice (KW = 6.358, P < 0.001) than endoscopic physicians when carrying out personal protection, patient care and environmental disinfection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. More positive attitudes in protection were related to better protective behavior in endoscopic daily medical work (r = 0.312; P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that Chinese endoscopy healthcare workers have an excellent mastery of knowledge about COVID-19, which is transformed into positive beliefs and attitudes, contributing to good practice during daily endoscopic procedures. Medical staff may benefit from further education. With the gradual normalization amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, protection and management in endoscopy units may be changed accordingly.
Speaking and Hearing With an Accent
Authors: Archibald John A.
Published: March 2021

When we speak a second language, we tend to do so with an accent. An accent is a change of the sounds of the second language, often the result of the influence of the first language. For example, an English speaker might produce French with English “r” sounds. Accents result from more than just poor muscular coordination. Second-language speakers are drawing on the unconscious rules that they already know about their first language. This body of knowledge influences not only how people speak a second language but also how they hear it. If a Japanese speaker is not accurately producing a distinction between an “l” and “r” sound, it is likely that the same individual will have difficulty accurately hearing the difference between the two sounds. Ultimately, bilingualism is a natural state for the human brain, even when we are speaking or listening with an accent.
Emotion Regulation Focused Family Therapy With Contemporary Families Affected by Information and Communication Technologies
Authors: Duriez Nathalie
Published: March 2021

In the contemporary world, new information and communication technologies (ICTs) have revolutionized family relationships and organization. Mobile phones, tablets, and computers are entrenched in everyday family life. Therefore, families face new challenges with problematic internet use, blurring boundaries between the outside world and the domestic sphere. Sometimes these changes in living together lead to suffering. How do therapists respond to these new challenges faced by contemporary families? Considering the emotion regulation strategies underlying the problematic use of technology, we develop an Emotion Regulation Focused Family Therapy. Within theChange Process Researchparadigm, which aims to explain how psychotherapy produces change, we examine this innovative therapeutic approach in an exploratory process in order to refine our own practice. We conducted a qualitative research for five families in family therapy under natural clinical conditions to identify the therapist's interventions and the family configurations. The core theme wastherapist interventions. The results identified 12 subcategories under this category. We built an emotion regulation focused model with 12 steps from these subcategories. Each of the interventions is illustrated with some excerpts from the sessions. Clinical considerations, methodological issues limiting the current body of work, and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Evaluation of the Dermal Toxicity of InZnP Quantum Dots Before and After Accelerated Weathering: Toward a Safer-By-Design Strategy
Authors: Dussert Fanny , Wegner Karl David , Moriscot Christine , Gallet Benoit , Jouneau Pierre-Henri , Reiss Peter , Carriere Marie
Published: March 2021

Quantum dots (QDs) are colloidal fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals with exceptional optical properties. Their widespread use, particularly in light-emitting diodes (LEDs), displays, and photovoltaics, is questioning their potential toxicity. The most widely used QDs are CdSe and CdTe QDs, but due to the toxicity of cadmium (Cd), their use in electrical and electronic equipment is now restricted in the European Union through the Restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) directive. This has prompted the development of safer alternatives to Cd-based QDs; among them, InP QDs are the most promising ones. We recently developed RoHS-compliant QDs with an alloyed core composed of InZnP coated with a Zn(Se,S) gradient shell, which was further coated with an additional ZnS shell to protect the QDs from oxidative surface degradation. In this study, the toxicity of single-shelled InZnP/Zn(Se,S) core/gradient shell and of double-shelled InZnP/Zn(Se,S)/ZnS core/shell/shell QDs was evaluated both in their pristine form and after aging in a climatic chamber, mimicking a realistic environmental weathering. We show that both pristine and aged QDs, whatever their composition, accumulate in the cytoplasm of human primary keratinocytes where they form agglomerates at the vicinity of the nucleus. Pristine QDs do not show overt toxicity to cells, while aged QDs show cytotoxicity and genotoxicity and significantly modulate the mRNA expression of proteins involved in zinc homeostasis, cell redox response, and inflammation. While the three aged QDs show similar toxicity, the toxicity of pristine gradient-shell QD is higher than that of pristine double-shell QD, confirming that adding a second shell is a promising safer-by-design strategy. Taken together, these results suggest that end-of-life degradation products from InP-based QDs are detrimental to skin cells in case of accidental exposure and that the mechanisms driving this effect are oxidative stress, inflammation, and disturbance of cell metal homeostasis, particularly Zn homeostasis. Further efforts to promote safer-by-design formulations of QDs, for instance by reducing the In and Zn content and/or implementing a more robust outer shell, are therefore warranted.
Electromagnetic Actuator System Using Witty Control System
Authors: Chen Der-Fa , Chiu Shen-Pao-Chi , Cheng An-Bang , Ting Jung-Chu
Published: March 2021

Electromagnetic actuator systems composed of an induction servo motor (ISM) drive system and a rice milling machine system have widely been used in agricultural applications. In order to achieve a finer control performance, a witty control system using a revised recurrent Jacobi polynomial neural network (RRJPNN) control and two remunerated controls with an altered bat search algorithm (ABSA) method is proposed to control electromagnetic actuator systems. The witty control system with finer learning capability can fulfill the RRJPNN control, which involves an attunement law, two remunerated controls, which have two evaluation laws, and a dominator control. Based on the Lyapunov stability principle, the attunement law in the RRJPNN control and two evaluation laws in the two remunerated controls are derived. Moreover, the ABSA method can acquire the adjustable learning rates to quicken convergence of weights. Finally, the proposed control method exhibits a finer control performance that is confirmed by experimental results.
Investigating the Efficacy of Selected Very-Long-Chain Fatty Acid-Inhibiting Herbicides on Iowa Waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) Populations with Evolved Multiple Herbicide Resistances
Authors: Jones Eric A. L. , Owen Micheal D. K.
Published: March 2021

Very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA)-inhibiting herbicides (Herbicide group (HG) 15) have been applied to corn and soybean fields in Iowa since the 1960s. The VLCFA-inhibiting herbicides are now applied more frequently to control multiple herbicide-resistant (MHR) waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus Moq. J.D. Sauer) populations that are ubiquitous across the Midwest United States as resistance to the VLCFA-inhibiting herbicides is not widespread. Waterhemp has evolved multiple resistances to herbicides from seven sites of action (HG 2, 4, 5, 9, 14, 15, and 27), and six-way herbicide-resistant populations have been confirmed. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine if selected Iowa waterhemp populations are less sensitive to VLCFA-inhibiting herbicides when additional herbicide resistance traits have evolved within the selected population. Dose–response assays were conducted in a germination chamber to determine the efficacy of three selected VLCFA-inhibiting herbicides (acetochlor, S-metolachlor, and flufenacet) on selected Iowa MHR waterhemp populations. An herbicide-susceptible, three-way, four-way, and five-way herbicide-resistant waterhemp population responded to the herbicide treatments differently; however, several of the four-way and five-way herbicide-resistant populations exhibited resistance ratios greater than 1 when treated with acetochlor and S-metolachlor. Selected four-way herbicide-resistant waterhemp populations from Iowa were subjected to a dose–response assay in the field using the same VLCFA-inhibiting herbicides, and all herbicides achieved control greater than 80% at the maximum labeled rate. The results of the experiments provide evidence that some MHR waterhemp populations may exhibit decreased susceptibility the VLCFA-inhibiting herbicides, but generally, these herbicides remain efficacious on Iowa MHR waterhemp populations.