bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
"Teach your children well" value-neutrality and CS202X
Authors: Blumenthal Richard
Published: August 2022

Beginning with the work of the ACM
Curricular Committee on Computer Science
in the early 1960s, and continuing approximately every decade since, ACM members have contributed to establishing curricular guidelines for undergraduate computer science education [1, 2]. This work is continuing with the recent formation of the CS202X Steering Committee, which is tasked with revising the recommendations for the next decade [3]. As such reports are reflect the work of their associated Steering Committees and the input of the computing community, "the reports are documents that reflect their time" [6]. Furthermore, curricular reports are not value-neutral, nor should they be (see below). Instead, as SIGCAS members, we should attempt to infuse into the CS202X curriculum the values we expect computer science graduates to exhibit throughout their computing careers. Naturally, what specific values should be included is up to our membership and, as a individual member of SIGCAS, I'll explore this topic in the remainder of this
Parting Opinion
column.
Online Monitoring of Power Grid Intelligent Voltage Stability considering Potential Factors
Authors: Rao Shuyong , Yuan Ye
Published: August 2022

To improve the monitoring effect of voltage stability, an online monitoring method for intelligent voltage stability of the power grid is designed based on the consideration of potential factors. First, the converter is used as a voltage detecting device to collect the intelligent voltage data of the power grid, and then the characteristic quantity of power grid voltage is extracted by using the wavelet change method. Based on the practical criterion of voltage instability of smart grid, the quantitative evaluation factors that can reflect the severity of voltage instability are selected, and the voltage stability state is monitored online by wide-area measurement. The experimental results show that the proposed method has a high fitting degree between the voltage monitoring value and the actual voltage value, and the global maximum value of the transmission delay of the monitoring signal is only 90.57 ms, and the voltage identification rate can always remain above 95%, indicating that the proposed method has high effectiveness and timeliness in voltage stability monitoring. In addition, the Pearson coefficients of this method are in the range of 0.8∼1.0, indicating that the monitoring accuracy of voltage stability is higher, which proves that the design expectation is effectively realized.
A Case of Fabry Disease with Central Retinal Artery Occlusion
Authors: Nakata Daisuke , Okada Hiroshi , Shimada Yoshiaki , Tanikawa Atsuhiro , Horiguchi Masayuki , Ito Yasuki
Published: August 2022

We report a case of Fabry disease diagnosed after recurrent cerebral infarction in a patient with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). A 23-year-old man presented with vision loss in his right eye (20/2000), showing CRAO. There was no identified cause for the loss of vision; however, corneal verticillata was detected in both eyes on the recurrence of the cerebral infarction. The α-galactosidase activity in leukocytes was significantly reduced to <0.3 nmol/mg of protein/hour, leading to a definitive diagnosis of Fabry disease. Enzyme replacement therapy was commenced concomitant to rehabilitation. It is necessary to identify Fabry disease as a cause of CRAO in young individuals, and the detection of cornea verticillata, used frequently as an ocular finding, is helpful.
Sex-Based Differences in Periprocedural Complications Following Lower Extremity Peripheral Vascular Intervention
Authors: Altin S. Elissa , Gitto Mauro , Secemsky Eric A. , Rao Sunil V. , Hess Connie N.
Published: August 2022

Background:

Women with coronary artery disease are shown to have worse outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention compared with men; however, less is known about sex-based outcomes following lower extremity peripheral vascular intervention (PVI) for symptomatic peripheral artery disease. The study aims to assess whether female sex is independently associated with periprocedural complications in patients undergoing PVI.

Methods:

Analysis includes patients undergoing lower extremity PVI from September 2016 to March 2020 from the Vascular Quality Initiative registry. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the independent association of female sex with post-PVI complications.

Results:

Of the 119 620 patients included, 47 316 (39.6%) were women. Analysis reflected that women were at higher risk of developing access site complications, including any hematoma (odds ratio [OR], 1.45 [1.35–1.57]), hematoma requiring transfusion (OR, 2.24 [1.82–2.76];
P
<0.001), hematoma requiring surgery (OR, 1.49 [1.19–1.86];
P
<0.001), pseudoaneurysm (OR, 1.69 [1.39–2.05];
P
<0.001), and access site occlusion (OR, 1.89 [1.15–3.08];
P
<0.001). Women also faced higher risks of target lesion dissection (OR, 1.36 [1.26–1.46];
P
<0.001), above-knee amputation (OR, 1.37 [1.18–1.58];
P
<0.001), and in-hospital mortality (OR, 1.21 [1.07–1.38];
P
=0.003).

Conclusions:

In a contemporary cohort, women undergoing lower extremity PVI for symptomatic peripheral artery disease were at higher risk than men of developing periprocedural complications, including moderate or severe access site bleeding, above-knee amputation, and in-hospital mortality. This increased risk persisted despite adjustment for differences in baseline patient or procedural characteristics and warrants further investigation.
Transcription Factor GATA4 Regulates Cell Type–Specific Splicing Through Direct Interaction With RNA in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell–Derived Cardiac Progenitors
Authors: Zhu Lili , Choudhary Krishna , Gonzalez-Teran Barbara , Ang Yen-Sin , Thomas Reuben , Stone Nicole R. , Liu Lei , Zhou Ping , Zhu Chenchen , Ruan Hongmei , Huang Yu , Jin Shibo , Pelonero Angelo , Koback Frances , Padmanabhan Arun , Sadagopan Nandhini , Hsu Austin , Costa Mauro W. , Gifford Casey A. , van Bemmel Joke G. , Hüttenhain Ruth , Vedantham Vasanth , Conklin Bruce R. , Black Brian L. , Bruneau Benoit G. , Steinmetz Lars , Krogan Nevan J. , Pollard Katherine S. , Srivastava Deepak
Published: August 2022

Background:

GATA4 (GATA-binding protein 4), a zinc finger–containing, DNA-binding transcription factor, is essential for normal cardiac development and homeostasis in mice and humans, and mutations in this gene have been reported in human heart defects. Defects in alternative splicing are associated with many heart diseases, yet relatively little is known about how cell type– or cell state–specific alternative splicing is achieved in the heart. Here, we show that GATA4 regulates cell type–specific splicing through direct interaction with RNA and the spliceosome in human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiac progenitors.

Methods:

We leveraged a combination of unbiased approaches including affinity purification of GATA4 and mass spectrometry, enhanced cross-linking with immunoprecipitation, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, in vitro splicing assays, and unbiased transcriptomic analysis to uncover GATA4’s novel function as a splicing regulator in human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiac progenitors.

Results:

We found that GATA4 interacts with many members of the spliceosome complex in human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiac progenitors. Enhanced cross-linking with immunoprecipitation demonstrated that GATA4 also directly binds to a large number of mRNAs through defined RNA motifs in a sequence-specific manner. In vitro splicing assays indicated that GATA4 regulates alternative splicing through direct RNA binding, resulting in functionally distinct protein products. Correspondingly, knockdown of GATA4 in human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiac progenitors resulted in differential alternative splicing of genes involved in cytoskeleton organization and calcium ion import, with functional consequences associated with the protein isoforms.

Conclusions:

This study shows that in addition to its well described transcriptional function, GATA4 interacts with members of the spliceosome complex and regulates cell type–specific alternative splicing via sequence-specific interactions with RNA. Several genes that have splicing regulated by GATA4 have functional consequences and many are associated with dilated cardiomyopathy, suggesting a novel role for GATA4 in achieving the necessary cardiac proteome in normal and stress-responsive conditions.
Novel Smooth Muscle Ca
2+
-Signaling Nanodomains in Blood Pressure Regulation
Authors: Chen Yen-Lin , Daneva Zdravka , Kuppusamy Maniselvan , Ottolini Matteo , Baker Thomas M. , Klimentova Eliska , Shah Soham A. , Sokolowski Jennifer D. , Park Min S. , Sonkusare Swapnil K.
Published: August 2022

Background:

Ca
2+
signals in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) contribute to vascular resistance and control blood pressure. Increased vascular resistance in hypertension has been attributed to impaired SMC Ca
2+
signaling mechanisms. In this regard, transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4
SMC
) ion channels are a crucial Ca
2+
entry pathway in SMCs. However, their role in blood pressure regulation has not been identified.

Methods:

We used SMC-specific TRPV4
−/−
(TRPV4
SMC
−/−
) mice to assess the role of TRPV4
SMC
channels in blood pressure regulation. We determined the contribution of TRPV4
SMC
channels to the constrictor effect of α1 adrenergic receptor (α1AR) stimulation and elevated intraluminal pressure: 2 main physiologic stimuli that constrict resistance-sized arteries. The contribution of spatially separated TRPV4
SMC
channel subpopulations to elevated blood pressure in hypertension was evaluated in angiotensin II–infused mice and patients with hypertension.

Results:

We provide first evidence that TRPV4
SMC
channel activity elevates resting blood pressure in normal mice. α1AR stimulation activated TRPV4
SMC
channels through PKCα (protein kinase Cα) signaling, which contributed significantly to vasoconstriction and blood pressure elevation. Intraluminal pressure–induced TRPV4
SMC
channel activity opposed vasoconstriction through activation of Ca
2+
-sensitive K
+
(BK) channels, indicating functionally opposite pools of TRPV4
SMC
channels. Superresolution imaging of SMCs revealed spatially separated α1AR:TRPV4 and TRPV4:BK nanodomains in SMCs. These data suggest that spatially separated α1AR–TRPV4
SMC
and intraluminal pressure–TRPV4
SMC
–BK channel signaling have opposite effects on blood pressure, with α1AR–TRPV4
SMC
signaling dominating under resting conditions. Furthermore, in patients with hypertension and a mouse model of hypertension, constrictor α1AR–PKCα–TRPV4 signaling was upregulated, whereas dilator pressure–TRPV4–BK channel signaling was disrupted, thereby increasing vasoconstriction and elevating blood pressure.

Conclusions:

Our data identify novel smooth muscle Ca
2+
-signaling nanodomains that regulate blood pressure and demonstrate their impairment in hypertension.
Diversity and distribution of Lentibulariaceae in Bahia state, Brazil: implications for phytogeography and conservation
Authors: GUEDES FELIPE MARTINS , OLIVEIRA MIRANDA VITOR FERNANDES , ALVES MARCCUS
Published: August 2022

Bahia state harbours an immense diversity of plant species with several cases of endemism, especially in the savanna wetlands, typical ecosystems where most Lentibulariaceae representatives occur. In this context, we aimed to improve the characterization of these savanna wetlands in terms of species richness of Lentibulariaceae, their phytogeographic patterns, endemism, forms of rarity, threats to their habitats, and conservation efforts. Herein we present the synopsis of the 42 species of Lentibulariaceae that occur in Bahia state, providing short diagnostic characterization, photographs of living specimens, updated geographic distribution displayed in maps, new records, and discussion concerning phytogeographic patterns, endemism, rarity, habitat characterization and current scenario of threats and conservation. Our results show a disjunct distribution and similarity in Lentibulariaceae species composition between savanna wetlands, corroborating previous hypotheses of vegetation connections during moister climatic conditions in the past. Moreover, differences in species composition among different restinga areas are consistent with biogeographical and paleomodelling studies pointing the São Francisco River as a geographic barrier influencing speciation and genetic diversity. Finally, we emphasize the situation of abandonment in some Protected Areas, lacking proper infrastructure, managers, management plans and board, and insufficient results for the effective conservation and protection of the environment and species.
Optimal Channel Selection of Spaceborne Microwave Radiometer for Surface Pressure Retrieval over Oceans
Authors: Zhang Zijin , Dong Xiaolong , Zhu Di
Published: August 2022

The O2-band channel configuration of existing microwave radiometers is not optimal for surface pressure retrieval, which limits the surface pressure retrieval accuracy. In this study, we present the results of theoretically what might be the optimal microwave channels for surface pressure retrieval. An improved iterative selection method is used to select the channels that contain the highest cumulative content of surface pressure information. The selected optimal channel set comprises 16 channels, among which 10 channels are centered at the 50–60 GHz oxygen absorption band and 6 channels are centered around the 118.75 GHz oxygen absorption line. Two representative spaceborne microwave radiometers are used for comparisons, the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) on board the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite and the Microwave Humidity and Temperature Sounder (MWHTS) on board the Chinese Fengyun-3C (FY-3C) satellite. The results of information content analysis show that the optimal channel set contains more surface pressure information than that of the combination of SNPP/ATMS and FY-3C/MWHTS (SNPP/ATMS+FY-3C/MWHTS) channels. A representative dataset from the ERA5 data is input into the plane-parallel Microwave Radiative Transfer model to obtain the simulated brightness temperature observations of the selected optimal channels and the SNPP/ATMS+FY-3C/MWHTS channels. Using the simulated observations, retrieval experiments are performed. Experimental results show that retrieval accuracies of the optimal channel set are 1.09 and 1.64 hPa for clear-sky and cloudy conditions, respectively. The retrieval accuracies are 0.60 and 0.65 hPa better than that of the SNPP/ATMS+FY-3C/MWHTS channels for clear-sky and cloudy conditions, respectively.
Total tenderness score and pressure pain thresholds in persistent post-traumatic headache attributed to mild traumatic brain injury
Authors: Ashina Håkan , Al-Khazali Haidar Muhsen , Iljazi Afrim , Ashina Sait , Amin Faisal Mohammad , Schytz Henrik Winther
Published: August 2022

Objective

To investigate whether persistent post-traumatic headache attributed to mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with more pronounced pericranial tenderness and lower pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) in the head and neck region, compared with healthy controls.

Methods

Patients with persistent post-traumatic headache (n = 100) and age- and gender-matched healthy controls (n = 100) were included between July 2018 and June 2019. Total tenderness score (TTS) was used to assess pericranial tenderness by bilateral manual palpation in eight muscles or tendon insertions. Summation was then used to calculate a TTS from 0 to 48 based on individual right- and left-sided scores; higher TTS score indicated more pronounced pericranial tenderness. PPTs were examined in m. temporalis and m. trapezius (upper and middle part) using an electronic pressure algometer that applies increasing blunt pressure at a constant rate.

Results

The TTS score was higher in patients with persistent post-traumatic headache (median, 21; IQR, 12–31), compared with healthy controls (median, 10; IQR, 6–17; P < .001). PPTs were lower in patients with persistent post-traumatic headache than in controls in both the left-sided m. temporalis (mean ± SD, 157.5 ± 59.9 vs. 201.1 ± 65.2; P < .001) and right-sided m. temporalis (mean ± SD, 159.5 ± 63.8 vs. 212.3 ± 61.9; P < .001). Furthermore, patients with persistent post-traumatic headache also had lower left- and right-sided PPTs in the upper as well as middle part of m. trapezius, compared with healthy controls; all P values were .05 or less.

Conclusions

Among patients with persistent post-traumatic headache, pericranial tenderness was more pronounced and PPTs in the head and neck region were lower than in healthy controls free of headache and mild TBI. Further research is needed to better understand the involvement of pericranial myofascial nociceptors in the disease mechanisms underlying post-traumatic headache.
EGR2 is a hub-gene in myocardial infarction and aggravates inflammation and apoptosis in hypoxia-induced cardiomyocytes
Authors: Bo Zhixiang , Huang Shuwen , Li Li , Chen Lin , Chen Ping , Luo Xiaoyi , Shi Fang , Zhu Bing , Shen Lin
Published: August 2022

Background

Myocardial infarction (MI) is characterized by coronary artery occlusion, ischemia and hypoxia of myocardial cells, leading to irreversible myocardial damage. Therefore, it is urgent to explore the potential mechanism of myocardial injury during the MI process to develop effective therapies for myocardial cell rescue.

Methods

We downloaded the GSE71906 dataset from GEO DataSets, and the R software was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in mouse heart tissues of MI and sham controls. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment were performed to understand the significantly activated signaling pathways in MI. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to highlight the hub genes in DEGs. The Western Blot, qRT-PCR and TUNEL staining were used to explore the function of hub gene in hypoxia-induced cardiomyocytes in vitro.

Results

A total of 235 DEGs were identified in GSE71906 dataset. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the upregulated genes were primarily associated with the inflammatory response and apoptosis. 20 hub genes were identified in PPI network, and the early growth response 2 (EGR2) was highlighted. In vitro. We confirmed the EGR2 was upregulated induced by hypoxia and revealed the upregulated EGR2 aggravates pro-inflammation and pro-apoptotic genes expression. In addition, EGR2 knockout mitigates hypoxia-induced inflammation and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes.

Conclusion

The present study identified the EGR2 was a hub gene in myocardial damage during MI process, the excessive EGR2 aggravates hypoxia-induced myocardial damage by accelerating inflammation and apoptosis in vitro. Therefore, targeting EGR2 offers a potential pharmacological strategy for myocardial cell rescue in MI.
Bidirectional association between visual impairment and frailty among community-dwelling older adults: a longitudinal study
Authors: Hou Tianxue , Liu Minhui , Zhang Jinghui
Published: August 2022

Background

Vision impairment is common among older adults, and it may be related to frailty. However, the longitudinal relationship between visual impairment and frailty is still unclear.

Methods

We used data from Round 1 to Round 5 from the National Health and Aging Trend Study. Two samples were community-dwelling older adults, sample 1 (without visual impairment) was classified according to whether they have pre-frailty/frailty at R1 (N = 3013) and sample 2 (without pre-frailty/frailty) was classified according to whether they have visual impairment at R1 (N = 1422), respectively. Frailty was measured using five criteria: experiencing exhaustion, unintentional weight loss, low physical activity, slow gait, and weak grip strength. Visual impairment was assessed by asking participants if they had any visual impairment. Generalized estimating equation models were used to examine the concurrent and lagged association between visual impairment and frailty.

Results

The participants were on average 76 ± 7 years old, female (59%), non-Hispanic white (74%) with less than bachelor educated (73%), and 44% were pre-frail/frail in the older adults without visual impairment. Approximately 5% of participants had visual impairment at R1, and they tended to be female and non-Hispanic White in the older adults without frailty. The concurrent (OR, 95% CI = 1.55, 1.17-2.02) and lagged (OR, 95% CI = 1.79, 1.25-2.59) associations between frailty and visual impairment were significantly after controlling the covariates. Similarly, the concurrent (OR, 95% CI = 1.63, 1.32-2.04) and lagged (OR, 95% CI = 1.49, 1.20-1.87) associations between visual impairment and frailty were also significant.

Conclusions

Overall, this study provides evidence for a longitudinal, bidirectional association between self-reported visual impairment and frailty. Future intervention programs to delay frailty progression should include strategies that may reduce the incidence of visual impairment.
Mobility was a significant determinant of reported COVID-19 incidence during the Omicron Surge in the most populous U.S. Counties
Authors: Harris Jeffrey E.
Published: August 2022

Background

Significant immune escape by the Omicron variant, along with the emergence of widespread worry fatigue, have called into question the robustness of the previously observed relation between population mobility and COVID-19 incidence.

Methods

We employed principal component analysis to construct a one-dimensional summary indicator of six Google mobility categories. We related this mobility indicator to case incidence among 111 of the most populous U.S. counties during the Omicron surge from December 2021 through February 2022.

Results

Reported COVID-19 incidence peaked earlier and declined more rapidly among those counties exhibiting more extensive decline in mobility between December 20 and January 3. Based upon a fixed-effects, longitudinal cohort model, we estimated that every 1% decline in mobility between December 20 and January 3 was associated with a 0.63% decline in peak incidence during the week ending January 17 (95% confidence interval, 0.40–0.86%). Based upon a cross-sectional analysis including mean household size and vaccination participation as covariates, we estimated that the same 1% decline in mobility was associated with a 0.36% decline in cumulative reported COVID-19 incidence from January 10 through February 28 (95% CI, 0.18–0.54%).

Conclusion

Omicron did not simply sweep through the U.S. population until it ran out of susceptible individuals to infect. To the contrary, a significant fraction managed to avoid infection by engaging in risk-mitigating behaviors. More broadly, the behavioral response to perceived risk should be viewed as an intrinsic component of the natural course of epidemics in humans.
Whole-lesion apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram as a quantitative biomarker to preoperatively differentiate stage IA endometrial carcinoma from benign endometrial lesions
Authors: Zhang Jieying , Yu Xiaoduo , Zhang Xiaomiao , Chen Shuang , Song Yan , Xie Lizhi , Chen Yan , Ouyang Han
Published: August 2022

Background

To assess the value of whole-lesion apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram analysis in differentiating stage IA endometrial carcinoma (EC) from benign endometrial lesions (BELs) and characterizing histopathologic features of stage IA EC preoperatively.

Methods

One hundred and six BEL and 126 stage IA EC patients were retrospectively enrolled. Eighteen volumetric histogram parameters were extracted from the ADC map of each lesion. The Mann–Whitney U or Student’s t-test was used to compare the differences between the two groups. Models based on clinical parameters and histogram features were established using multivariate logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and calibration curves were used to assess the models.

Results

Stage IA EC showed lower ADC10th, ADC90th, ADCmin, ADCmax, ADCmean, ADCmedian, interquartile range, mean absolute deviation, robust mean absolute deviation (rMAD), root mean squared, energy, total energy, entropy, variance, and higher skewness, kurtosis and uniformity than BELs (all p < 0.05). ADCmedian yielded the highest area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.928 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.895–0.960; cut-off value = 1.161 × 10−3 mm2/s) for differentiating stage IA EC from BELs. Moreover, multivariate analysis demonstrated that ADC-score (ADC10th + skewness + rMAD + total energy) was the only significant independent predictor (OR = 2.641, 95% CI 2.045–3.411; p < 0.001) for stage IA EC when considering clinical parameters. This ADC histogram model (ADC-score) achieved an AUC of 0.941 and a bias-corrected AUC of 0.937 after bootstrap resampling. The model performed well for both premenopausal (accuracy = 0.871) and postmenopausal (accuracy = 0.905) patients. Besides, ADCmin and ADC10th were significantly lower in Grade 3 than in Grade 1/2 stage IA EC (p = 0.022 and 0.047). At the same time, no correlation was found between ADC histogram parameters and the expression of Ki-67 in stage IA EC (all p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Whole-lesion ADC histogram analysis could serve as an imaging biomarker for differentiating stage IA EC from BELs and assisting in tumor grading of stage IA EC, thus facilitating personalized clinical management for premenopausal and postmenopausal patients.
CCM signaling complex (CSC) couples both classic and non-classic Progesterone receptor signaling
Authors: Abou-Fadel Johnathan , Jiang Xiaoting , Grajeda Brian , Padarti Akhil , Ellis Cameron C. , Flores Esmeralda , Cailing-De La O Alyssa-Marie D. , Zhang Jun
Published: August 2022

Background

Breast cancer, the most diagnosed cancer, remains the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and excessive Progesterone (PRG) or Mifepristone (MIF) exposure may be at an increased risk for developing breast cancer. PRG exerts its cellular responses through signaling cascades involving classic, non-classic, or combined responses by binding to either classic nuclear PRG receptors (nPRs) or non-classic membrane PRG receptors (mPRs). Currently, the intricate balance and switch mechanisms between these two signaling cascades remain elusive. Three genes, CCM1-3, form the CCM signaling complex (CSC) which mediates multiple signaling cascades.

Methods

Utilizing molecular, cellular, Omics, and systems biology approaches, we analyzed the relationship among the CSC, PRG, and nPRs/mPRs during breast cancer tumorigenesis.

Results

We discovered that the CSC plays an essential role in coupling both classic and non-classic PRG signaling pathways by mediating crosstalk between them, forming the CmPn (CSC-mPRs-PRG-nPRs) signaling network. We found that mPR-specific PRG actions (PRG + MIF) play an essential role in this CmPn network during breast cancer tumorigenesis. Additionally, we have identified 4 categories of candidate biomarkers (9 intrinsic, 2 PRG-inducible, 1 PRG-repressive, 1 mPR-specific PRG-repressive, and 2 mPR-responsive) for Luminal-A breast cancers during tumorigenesis and have confirmed the prognostic application of RPL13 and RPL38 as intrinsic biomarkers using a dual validation method.

Conclusions

We have discovered that the CSC plays an essential role in the CmPn signaling network for Luminal-A breast cancers with identification of two intrinsic biomarkers.
Analysis of the anaerobic digestion metagenome under environmental stresses stimulating prophage induction
Authors: Rossi Alessandro , Morlino Maria Silvia , Gaspari Maria , Basile Arianna , Kougias Panagiotis , Treu Laura , Campanaro Stefano
Published: August 2022

Background

The viral community has the potential to influence the structure of the microbiome and thus the yield of the anaerobic digestion process. However, the virome composition in anaerobic digestion is still under-investigated. A viral induction experiment was conducted on separate batches undergoing a series of DNA-damaging stresses, in order to coerce temperate viruses to enter the lytic cycle.

Results

The sequencing of the metagenome revealed a viral community almost entirely composed of tailed bacteriophages of the order Caudovirales. Following a binning procedure 1,092 viral and 120 prokaryotic genomes were reconstructed, 64 of which included an integrated prophage in their sequence.

Clustering of coverage profiles revealed the presence of species, both viral and microbial, sharing similar reactions to shocks. A group of viral genomes, which increase under organic overload and decrease under basic pH, uniquely encode the yopX gene, which is involved in the induction of temperate prophages. Moreover, the in-silico functional analysis revealed an enrichment of sialidases in viral genomes. These genes are associated with tail proteins and, as such, are hypothesised to be involved in the interaction with the host. Archaea registered the most pronounced changes in relation to shocks and featured behaviours not shared with other species. Subsequently, data from 123 different samples of the global anaerobic digestion database was used to determine coverage profiles of host and viral genomes on a broader scale.

Conclusions

Viruses are key components in anaerobic digestion environments, shaping the microbial guilds which drive the methanogenesis process. In turn, environmental conditions are pivotal in shaping the viral community and the rate of induction of temperate viruses. This study provides an initial insight into the complexity of the anaerobic digestion virome and its relation with the microbial community and the diverse environmental parameters.
Early-warning prediction of student performance and engagement in open book assessment by reading behavior analysis
Authors: Flanagan Brendan , Majumdar Rwitajit , Ogata Hiroaki
Published: August 2022

Digitized learning materials are a core part of modern education, and analysis of the use can offer insight into the learning behavior of high and low performing students. The topic of predicting student characteristics has gained a lot of attention in recent years, with applications ranging from affect to performance and at-risk student prediction. In this paper, we examine students reading behavior using a digital textbook system while taking an open-book test from the perspective of engagement and performance to identify the strategies that are used. We create models to predict the performance and engagement of learners before the start of the assessment and extract reading behavior characteristics employed before and after the start of the assessment in a higher education setting. It was found that strategies, such as: revising and previewing are indicators of how a learner will perform in an open ebook assessment. Low performing students take advantage of the open ebook policy of the assessment and employ a strategy of searching for information during the assessment. Also compared to performance, the prediction of overall engagement has a higher accuracy, and therefore could be more appropriate for identifying intervention candidates as an early-warning intervention system.
Radiologic-pathologic correlation in breast cancer: do MRI biomarkers correlate with pathologic features and molecular subtypes?
Authors: Galati Francesca , Rizzo Veronica , Moffa Giuliana , Caramanico Claudia , Kripa Endi , Cerbelli Bruna , D’Amati Giulia , Pediconi Federica
Published: August 2022

Background

Breast cancer (BC) includes different pathological and molecular subtypes. This study aimed to investigate whether multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) could reliably predict the molecular status of BC, comparing mpMRI features with pathological and immunohistochemical results.

Methods

This retrospective study included 156 patients with an ultrasound-guided biopsy-proven BC, who underwent breast mpMRI (including diffusion-weighted imaging) on a 3-T scanner from 2017 to 2020. Histopathological analyses were performed on the surgical specimens. Kolmogorov–Smirnov Z, χ2, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results

Fifteen patients were affected with ductal carcinoma in situ, 122 by invasive carcinoma of no special type, and 19 with invasive lobular carcinoma. Out of a total of 141 invasive cancers, 45 were luminal A-like, 54 luminal B-like, 5 human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive, and 37 triple negative. The regression analyses showed that size < 2 cm predicted luminal A-like status (p = 0.025), while rim enhancement (p < 0.001), intralesional necrosis (p = 0.001), peritumoural oedema (p < 0.001), and axillary adenopathies (p = 0.012) were negative predictors. Oppositely, round shape (p = 0.001), rim enhancement (p < 0.001), intralesional necrosis (p < 0.001), and peritumoural oedema (p < 0.001) predicted triple-negative status.

Conclusions

mpMRI has been confirmed to be a valid noninvasive predictor of BC subtypes, especially luminal A and triple negative. Considering the central role of pathology in BC diagnosis and immunohistochemical profiling in the current precision medicine era, a detailed radiologic-pathologic correlation seems vital to properly evaluate BC.
The association between posterior brain cerebral circulation calcification and coronary arteries calcification and its stroke risk in a Saudi population: a retrospective study
Authors: Alqarni Ali M. , Alsaadi Mohammed J. , Fatani Mohammed , Alahmari Dhafer M. , Azeem Fayka K. Abdel , Almalki Mansour J. , Alqarni Abdullah , Abounassif Mazen Mohammed , Alfuraih Abdulrahman M.
Published: August 2022

Background

Anterior cerebral circulation calcification and stroke occurrence association is well established in the literature. Posterior cerebral circulation calcification associated with coronary calcification and stroke incidence has not been properly investigated in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the clinical relationship between posterior cerebral circulation calcification and coronary artery calcifications and to describe the association between risk factors and stroke occurrence based on computed tomography imaging.

Results

A total of 101 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 64.9 ± 12.4. Of the patients, 69.3 were male. Most of the patients were Saudi (72.3%), 28.6% were smokers, 36.4% were overweight, and 22.1% were obese. Exactly 61.4% had mild coronary artery calcification, 26.7% had moderate calcification, and 11.9% had severe calcification. 34.7% had an anterior stroke, and 23.8% had a posterior stroke. Posterior cerebral circulation calcification was more evident in patients with coronary artery calcification, and it increased with the severity level (p = 0.001). Posterior cerebral circulation calcification was significantly associated with stroke (67.4%, p =  < 0.001).

Conclusion

Coronary artery calcification is significantly associated with posterior cerebral circulation calcification. Furthermore, stroke incidence increased with the presence of posterior cerebral circulation calcification.
Digital Technologies As a Factor of Techno-Stress: Problems and Possibilities for Their Solution
Authors: Konovalova Valeriya
Published: August 2022

The article deals with the problems of technostress in the implementation of digital technologies. The main types of techno-stresses when using digital technologies (techno-overload, techno-anxiety, techno-invasion, techno-complexity, techno-uncertainty) are identified and their causes are revealed. It is shown that intensive work with digital tools is accompanied by a number of undesirable consequences (cognitive overload, emotional distress, destruction of boundaries between work and personal life, etc.), which provoke a decrease in job satisfaction and commitment to the organization, create mental health risks. The results of studies of personal and organizational factors that affect the perceived level of stress in working with digital technologies are summarized. The necessity of a holistic sociotechnical approach in the redesign of jobs and tasks to prevent the consequences of technost-resses is substantiated. It is shown that the undesirable effects of the introduction of digital technologies can be mitigated by appropriate organizational and regulatory measures affecting the technologies themselves, individual employees and the social system in which they work..
Female sexual dysfunction: what the practice nurse needs to know
Authors: Gregory Angela
Published: August 2022

For many women, practice nurses are the first point of contact for sexual or reproductive health concerns. Angela Gregory provides are overview of the basics of female sexual dysfunction

The World Health Organization regards ‘sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing as essential if people are to have responsible, safe and satisfying sexual lives and that sexual health requires a positive approach to human sexuality’. General practice nurses are ideally placed to educate and address sexual concerns. Practice nurses are not expected to be experts in this field or to carry out specialist assessment, examination and treatment, but there are opportunities to initiate discussion, identify potential sexual issues, provide simple advice and treatment, signpost to online resources and refer to medical colleagues or specialist services. Two common sexual complaints – sexual desire/interest concerns and sexual/genital pain – are discussed with an emphasis on the importance of recognising and treating the silent symptoms of the menopause and pelvic floor dysfunction due to their significant impact on female sexual function.
Dietitians: roles in the community and contribution to patient care
Authors: Gasche Rebecca
Published: August 2022

Dietitians are increasingly working in community roles. Rebecca Gasche explores the ways in which they can contribute to patient care.

This article focuses on the main areas in which dietitians can impact patient care, particularly within a community setting, as well as discussing the contribution from dietitians in extended roles and working at advanced practice. A range of research papers and national guidance on dietetic practice are discussed to develop a summative article on the scope of their practice. This article aims to provide insight into the work of dietitians in the community – strengthening the understanding of the roles and to demonstrate how dietetic practice can influence patient care as part of a community multidisciplinary team.
Patient experiences of scaphoid waist fractures and their treatment
Authors: Leighton Paul A. , Brealey Stephen D. , Dias Joseph J.
Published: August 2022

Aims

To explore individuals’ experience of a scaphoid waist fracture and its subsequent treatment.

Methods

A purposive sample was created, consisting of 49 participants in the Scaphoid Waist Internal Fixation for Fractures Trial of initial surgery compared with plaster cast treatment for fractures of the scaphoid waist. The majority of participants were male (35/49) and more younger participants (28/49 aged under 30 years) were included. Participants were interviewed six weeks or 52 weeks post-recruitment to the trial, or at both timepoints. Interviews were semistructured and analyzed inductively to generate cross-cutting themes that typify experience of the injury and views upon the treatment options.

Results

Data show that individual circumstances might exaggerate or mitigate the limitations associated with a scaphoid fracture, and that an individual’s sense of recovery is subjective and more closely aligned with perceived functional abilities than it is with bone union. Misconceptions that surgery promises a speedier and more secure form of recovery means that some individuals, whose circumstances prescribe a need for quick return to function, express a preference for this treatment modality. Clinical consultations need to negotiate the imperfect relationship between bone union, normal function, and an individual’s sense of recovery. Enhancing patients’ perceptions of regaining function, with removable splints and encouraging home exercise, will support satisfaction with care and discourage premature risk-taking.

Conclusion

Clinical decision-making in the management of scaphoid fractures should recognize that personal circumstances will influence how functional limitations are experienced. It should also recognize that function overrides a concern for bone union, and that the consequences of fractures are poorly understood. Where possible, clinicians should reinforce in individuals a sense that they are making progress in their recovery. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(8):641–647.
Inside Trees: Summer Camp and Remote Learning for Increasing Awareness and Enrollment in Bio-Based Materials Degree Programs
Authors: Cerv Sara A. , Zink-Sharp Audrey
Published: August 2022

The bio-based materials industry, which includes bio-based fuels, materials, and chemicals, is expanding and providing new career opportunities that are not well known by today's entering college students. In addition, the related undergraduate degree programs are neither gender nor ethnically representative of current U.S. demographics. A program model framework called Inside Trees was developed and tested in this project for an in-person summer camp and remote learning modules to help raise awareness and form a pipeline between high school students and future enrollment in higher-educational degree programs. To gain a better understanding of logistics, a prototype summer camp was delivered to 12 students, 10 of whom were women, 3 were first-generation college students, 1 was African American, and 1 was Hispanic/Latino. Three students who attended the Inside Trees summer camp enrolled at Virginia Tech University the following year. Content and activities from the summer camp were later converted into digital learning modules that could be used with a summer camp or as separate teaching/learning units. Review of supporting literature and informal student feedback indicates that a summer camp program that includes experiential learning, a positive experience in nature, support through the higher-educational academic program, multiple disciplines, and career opportunities shows good potential to be an effective pipeline to increase diversity in the bio-based industry. It is suggested that the Inside Trees model curriculum and framework could be adapted by other universities or organizations for achievement of institution-specific goals toward improved awareness and enrollment of underrepresented students.
Deep-learning informed Kalman filtering for priori-free and real-time hemodynamics extraction in functional near-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Liu Dongyuan , Zhang Yao , Zhang Pengrui , Li Tieni , Li Zhiyong , Zhang Limin , Gao Feng
Published: August 2022

Separation of the physiological interferences and the neural hemodynamics has been a vitally important task in the realistic implementation of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Although many efforts have been devoted, the established solutions to this issue additionally rely on priori information on the interferences and activation responses, such as time-frequency characteristics and spatial patterns, etc., also hindering the realization of real-time. To tackle the adversity, we herein propose a novel priori-free scheme for real-time physiological interference suppression. This method combines the robustness of deep-leaning-based interference characterization and adaptivity of Kalman filtering: a long short-term memory (LSTM) network is trained with the time-courses of the absorption perturbation baseline for interferences profiling, and successively, a Kalman filtering process is applied with reference to the noise prediction for real-time activation extraction. The proposed method is validated using both simulated dynamic data and in-vivo experiments, showing the comprehensively improved performance and promisingly appended superiority achieved in the purely data-driven way.
Stakeholders’ views and perspectives on treatments of visceral leishmaniasis and their outcomes in HIV-coinfected patients in East Africa and South-East Asia: A mixed methods study
Authors: Khabsa Joanne , Jain Saurabh , El-Harakeh Amena , Rizkallah Cynthia , Pandey Dhruv K. , Manaye Nigus , Honein-AbouHaidar Gladys , Halleux Christine , Dagne Daniel Argaw , Akl Elie A.
Published: August 2022

Background

In visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), combination therapy (liposomal amphotericin B infusion and oral miltefosine) is being considered as an alternative to liposomal amphotericin B monotherapy. We aimed to assess the views of stakeholders in relation to these treatment options.

Methodology

In a mixed methods study, we surveyed and interviewed patients, government functionaries, programme managers, health service providers, nongovernmental organizations, researchers, and World Health Organization (WHO) personnel. We used the Evidence to Decision (EtD) framework for data collection planning and analysis. Constructs of interest included valuation of outcomes, impact on equity, feasibility and acceptability of the treatment options, implementation considerations, monitoring and evaluation, and research priorities.

Principal findings/Conclusion

Mortality and non-serious adverse events were rated as “critical” by respectively the highest (61%) and lowest percentages (47%) of survey participants. Participants viewed clinical cure as essential for patients to regain productivity. Non-patient stakeholders emphasized the importance of “sustained” clinical cure. For most survey participants, combination therapy, compared with monotherapy, would increase health equity (40%), and be more acceptable (79%) and feasible (57%). Interviews revealed that combination therapy was more feasible and acceptable than monotherapy when associated with a shorter duration of hospitalization. The findings of the interviews provided insight into those of the survey. When choosing between alternative options, providers should consider the outcomes that matter to patients as well as the impact on equity, feasibility, and acceptability of the options.