bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reaching transgender populations in Zambia for HIV prevention and linkage to treatment using community‐based service delivery
Authors: Mwango Linah , Toeque Mona‐Gekanju , Lindsay Brianna , Tembo Kalima , Sakala Henry , Reggee Sean , Malunga Sibusiso Mimi , Kabwe McLean , Kafunda Ina , Olufunso Adebayo , Mwila Annie , Okuku Jackson , Kancheya Nzali , Nkwemu Kennedy , Mumba Daliso , Hachaambwa Lottie , Sheneberger Robb , Blanco Natalia , Lavoie Marie‐Claude , Stafford Kristen A. , Claassen Cassidy W.
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Transgender and gender‐diverse communities in Zambia are highly vulnerable and experience healthcare differently than cisgender persons. The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) supports projects in Zambia to improve HIV case‐finding, linkage and antiretroviral treatment (ART) for Zambia's transgender community. We describe programme strategies and outcomes for HIV prevention, testing and ART linkage among transgender communities.

Methods

UMB utilizes a differentiated service delivery model whereby community health workers (CHWs) recruited from key populations (KPs) reach community members through a peer‐to‐peer approach, with the support of local transgender civil society organizations (CSOs) and community gatekeepers. Peer CHWs are trained and certified as HIV testers and psychosocial counsellors to offer counselling with HIV testing and prevention services in identified safe spaces. HIV‐negative people at risk of HIV infection are offered pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), while those who test positive for HIV are linked to ART services. CHWs collect data using the standardized facility and community tools and a dedicated DHIS2 database system. We conducted a descriptive analysis examining HIV testing and prevention outcomes using proportions and comparisons by time period and geographic strata.

Results

From October 2020 to June 2021, across Eastern, Lusaka, Western and Southern Provinces, 1860 transgender persons were reached with HIV prevention messages and services. Of these, 424 (23%) were tested for HIV and 78 (18%) tested positive. Of the 346 HIV‐negative persons, 268 (78%) eligible transgender individuals were initiated on PrEP. ART linkage was 97%, with 76 out of the 78 transgender individuals living with HIV initiating treatment. Programme strategies that supported testing and linkage included peer CHWs, social network strategy testing, same‐day ART initiation and local KP CSO support. Challenges included non‐transgender‐friendly environments, stigma and discrimination, the high transiency of the transgender community and the non‐availability of transgender‐specific health services, such as hormonal therapy.

Conclusions

Peer KP CHWs were able to reach many members of the transgender community, providing safe HIV testing, PrEP services and linkage to care. Focusing on community gatekeepers and CSOs to disburse health messages and employ welcoming strategies supported high linkage to both PrEP and ART for transgender people in Zambia.
HIV awareness and prevention strategies among transgender women in the Eastern and Southern United States: findings from the LITE Study
Authors: Aguayo‐Romero Rodrigo A. , Cannon Christopher M. , Wirtz Andrea L. , Cooney Erin E. , Mayer Kenneth H. , Reisner Sari L. ,   the American Cohort to Study HIV Acquisition among Transgender Women (LITE) Study Group
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Transgender women (TW) experience an increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition. This study identified patterns of HIV awareness and prevention strategies used by TW who were not living with HIV.

Methods

Data were drawn from a baseline survey of the LITE Study, a multi‐site cohort of TW in Eastern and Southern United States (March 2018–August 2020). We conducted a latent class analysis to identify classes of HIV awareness and prevention strategies among TW who reported past 12‐month sexual activity (N = 958) using 10 variables spanning HIV knowledge, receipt and use of HIV prevention strategies, and sexual practices. Due to differences across the cohort arms, classes were estimated separately for TW enrolled in site‐based versus online study arms. We identified demographic characteristics, gender‐affirming indicators and HIV vulnerabilities associated with class membership.

Results

Four parallel classes emerged: class 1 “limited strategies—less sexually active” (15% and 9%, site‐based and online, respectively), class 2 “limited strategies—insertive sex” (16%/36%), class 3 “limited strategies—receptive sex” (33%/37%) and class 4 “multiple strategies—insertive and receptive sex” (36%/18%). Across all classes, condomless sex, pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)/post‐exposure prophylaxis (PEP) prevention knowledge and awareness were high but reported PrEP/PEP use was low. Compared with class 1, membership in class 4 was associated with being a person of colour (site‐based OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.15–4.00, online OR = 4.54, 95% CI = 1.09–18.81) increased odds of self‐perceived medium‐to‐high HIV risk (site‐based OR = 4.12, 95% CI = 2.17–7.80, online OR = 11.73, 95% CI = 2.98–46.13), sexually transmitted infections (STI) diagnosis (site‐based OR = 6.69, 95% CI = 3.42–13.10, online OR = 8.46, 95% CI = 1.71–41.78), current sex work (site‐based OR = 6.49, 95% CI = 2.61–16.11, online OR = 10.25, 95% CI = 1.16–90.60) and 2–4 sexual partners in the last 3 months (site‐based OR = 2.61, 95% CI = 1.33–5.13). Class 3, compared with class 1, had increased odds of current sex work partners (site‐based OR = 3.09, 95% CI = 1.19–8.07) and of having 2–4 sexual partners in the last 3 months (site‐based OR = 3.69, 95% CI = 1.85–7.39).

Conclusions

TW have varied HIV awareness and prevention strategy utilization, with clear gaps in the uptake of prevention strategies. Algorithms derived from latent class membership may be used to tailor HIV prevention interventions for different subgroups and those reached through facility‐based or digital methods.
Metabolomics analysis of antiquitin deficiency in cultured human cells and plasma: Relevance to pyridoxine‐dependent epilepsy
Authors: Crowther Lisa M. , Poms Martin , Zandl‐Lang Martina , Abela Lucia , Hartmann Hans , Seiler Michelle , Mathis Déborah , Plecko Barbara
Published: October 2022

Deficiency of antiquitin (α‐aminoadipic semialdehyde dehydrogenase), an enzyme involved in lysine degradation and encoded by ALDH7A1, is the major cause of vitamin B6‐dependent epilepsy (PDE‐ALDH7A1). Despite seizure control with high dose pyridoxine (PN), developmental delay still occurs in approximately 70% of patients. We aimed to investigate metabolic perturbations due to possible previously unidentified roles of antiquitin, which may contribute to developmental delay, as well as metabolic effects of high dose pyridoxine supplementation reflecting the high doses used for seizure control in patients with PDE‐ALDH7A1. Untargeted metabolomics by high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) was used to analyze plasma of patients with PDE‐ALDH7A1 and two independently generated lines of cultured ReNcell CX human neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs) with CRISPR/Cas mediated antiquitin deficiency. Accumulation of lysine pathway metabolites in antiquitin‐deficient NPCs and western‐blot analysis confirmed knockdown of ALDH7A1. Metabolomics analysis of antiquitin‐deficient NPCs in conditions of lysine restriction and PN supplementation identified changes in metabolites related to the transmethylation and transsulfuration pathways and osmolytes, indicating a possible unrecognized role of antiquitin outside the lysine degradation pathway. Analysis of plasma samples of PN treated patients with PDE‐ALDH7A1 and antiquitin‐deficient NPCs cultured in conditions comparable to the patient plasma samples demonstrated perturbation of metabolites of the gamma‐glutamyl cycle, suggesting potential oxidative stress‐related effects in PN‐treated patients with PDE‐ALDH7A1. We postulate that a model of human NPCs with CRISPR/Cas mediated antiquitin deficiency is well suited to characterize previously unreported roles of antiquitin, relevant to this most prevalent form of pyridoxine‐dependent epilepsy.
The association between human papillomavirus and bladder cancer: Evidence from meta‐analysis and two‐sample mendelian randomization
Authors: Sun Jian‐Xuan , Xu Jin‐Zhou , Liu Chen‐Qian , An Ye , Xu Meng‐Yao , Zhong Xing‐Yu , Zeng Na , Ma Si‐Yang , He Hao‐Dong , Hu Jia , Liu Zheng , Wang Shao‐Gang , Xia Qi‐Dong
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Bladder cancer (BCa) is the 10th most common type of cancer worldwide, and human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. However, the relationship between HPV infection and the risk of BCa is still controversial and inconclusive.

Methods

This systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted following the PRISMA 2020 reporting guideline. This study searched four bibliographic databases with no language limitation. The databases included PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Studies evaluating the interaction between HPV infection and the risk of BCa from inception through May 21, 2022, were identified and used in this study. This study estimated the overall and type‐specific HPV prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using Random Effects models and Fixed Effects models. In addition, this study also calculated the pooled odds ratio and pooled risk ratio with 95% CI to assess the effect of HPV infection on the risk and prognosis of bladder cancer. Two‐sample mendelian randomization (MR) study using genetic variants associated with HPV E7 protein as instrumental variables were also conducted.

Results

This study retrieved 80 articles from the four bibliographic databases. Of the total, 27 were case–control studies, and 53 were cross‐sectional studies. The results showed that the prevalence of HPV was 16% (95% CI: 11%–21%) among the BCa patients, most of which were HPV‐16 (5.99% [95% CI: 3.03%–9.69%]) and HPV‐18 (3.68% [95% CI: 1.72%–6.16%]) subtypes. However, the study found that the prevalence varied by region, detection method, BCa histological type, and sample source. A significantly increased risk of BCa was shown for the positivity of overall HPV (odds ratio [OR], 3.35 [95% CI: 1.75–6.43]), which was also influenced by study region, detection method, histological type, and sample source. In addition, the study found that HPV infection was significantly associated with the progression of BCa (RR, 1.73 [95% CI: 1.39–2.15]). The two‐sample MR analysis found that both HPV 16 and 18 E7 protein exposure increased the risk of BCa (HPV 16 E7 protein: IVW OR per unit increase in protein level = 1.0004 [95% CI: 1.0002–1.0006]; p = 0.0011; HPV 18 E7 protein: IVW OR per unit increase in protein level = 1.0003 [95% CI: 1.0001–1.0005]; p = 0.0089).

Conclusion

In conclusion, HPV may play a role in bladder carcinogenesis and contribute to a worse prognosis for patients with BCa. Therefore, it is necessary for people, especially men, to get vaccinated for HPV vaccination to prevent bladder cancer.
Time dependency in the radiofrequency lesion formation for a local impedance guided catheter in an ex vivo experimental model
Authors: Kawano Daisuke , Mori Hitoshi , Tsutsui Kenta , Fukaya Hidehira , Tanaka Naomichi , Narita Masataka , Sasaki Wataru , Matsumoto Kazuhisa , Ikeda Yoshifumi , Arai Takahide , Nakano Shintaro , Kato Ritsushi
Published: October 2022

Background

The local impedance (LI) is an emerging technology that monitors tissue‐catheter coupling during radiofrequency (RF) ablation. The relationships between the LI, RF delivery time, and lesion formation remain unclear.

Methods

Using an LI‐enabled RF catheter in an ex vivo experimental model, RF lesions were created combined with various steps in the power (40 and 50 W), CF (10 g, 30 g, and 50 g), and time (10s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s at 40 W and 5 s, 10s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s at 50 W). The correlations between the LI drop, lesion size, and RF delivery time were evaluated. The rate of change in the time‐dependent gain in the LI, depth, and diameter and the time to reach 90% decay of the peak dY/dT (time to 90% decay) were assessed.

Results

The correlation between the LI drop and ablation time revealed non‐linear changes. The time to a 90% decay in the LI drop differed depending on the RF ablation setting and was always shorter with the 50 W setting than 40 W setting. The LI drop always correlated with the lesion formation under all ablation power settings. Deeper or wider lesions were predominantly created within the time to 90% decay of the LI drop.

Conclusion

The LI drop was useful for predicting lesion sizes. Deeper or wider lesions cannot be obtained with a longer ablation than the 90% decay time of the LI drop. A shorter ablation than the 90% decay time of the LI drop would be preferable for an effective ablation.
Objective determination of the winter monsoon onset dates and its interannual variability in Malaysia
Authors: Chenoli Sheeba Nettukandy , Diong Jeong Yik , Mohd Nor Mohd Fadzil Firdzaus , Yip Weng Sang , Xavier Prince , Chang Nursalleh K. , Abu Samah Azizan
Published: October 2022

The northeast/winter monsoon over Malaysia often leads to extreme rainfall events and floods over the windward side of terrain due to the strong northeasterly winds. Comparatively, much less rain falls over the other are sheltered by the mountain ranges. Based on this consideration, the onset of monsoon in the region is best determined operationally using 925 hPa winds. Therefore, we propose the first, simple, single‐variable‐based method to determine the onset dates of winter monsoon is yet reliable and can be closely monitored for operational purposes. The onset date is defined in the third pentad when the average of three pentads of 925 hPa northerly wind speed is greater than 1 m·s−1, and at least one of three pentads must be greater than 2.5 m·s−1. The study also investigates the relationship between the interannual variability of onset date and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). Late‐onset can be expected when La Niña develops in the boreal fall season. However, a similar association between monsoon onset and El Niño condition was not observed. The lead–lag correlation between the IOD and the onset dates shows that the onset is significantly negatively correlated with the IOD. During negative (positive) IOD events, a delay (early) onset is expected. Results also show that the relationship between the onset and IOD is more robust and linear than the ENSO.
SARS‐CoV‐2 severity classification from plasma sample using confocal Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Banerjee Arghya , Halder Ankit , Jadhav Priyanka , Sarkar Anushka , Hole Arti , Shastri Jayanthi S. , Agrawal Sachee , Chilakapati Murali Krishna , Srivastava Sanjeeva
Published: October 2022

The world is on the brink of facing coronavirus's (COVID‐19) fourth wave as the mutant forms of viruses are escaping neutralizing antibodies in spite of being vaccinated. As we have already witnessed that it has encumbered our health system, with hospitals swamped with infected patients observed during the viral outbreak. Rapid triage of patients infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 is required during hospitalization to prioritize and provide the best point of care. Traditional diagnostics techniques such as RT‐PCR and clinical parameters such as symptoms, comorbidities, sex and age are not enough to identify the severity of patients. Here, we investigated the potential of confocal Raman microspectroscopy as a powerful tool to generate an expeditious blood‐based test for the classification of COVID‐19 disease severity using 65 patients plasma samples from cohorts infected with SARS‐CoV‐2. We designed an easy manageable blood test where we used a small volume (8 μl) of inactivated whole plasma samples from infected patients without any extra solvent usage in plasma processing. Raman spectra of plasma samples were acquired and multivariate exploratory analysis PC‐LDA (principal component based linear discriminant analysis) was used to build a model, which segregated the severe from the non‐severe COVID‐19 group with a sensitivity of 83.87%, specificity of 70.60% and classification efficiency of 76.92%. Among the bands expressed in both the cohorts, the study led to the identification of Raman fingerprint regions corresponding to lipids (1661, 1742), proteins amide I and amide III (1555, 1247), proteins (Phe) (1006, 1034), and nucleic acids (760) to be differentially expressed in severe COVID‐19 patient's samples. In summary, the current study exhibits the potential of confocal Raman to generate simple, rapid, and less expensive blood tests to triage the severity of patients infected with SARS‐CoV‐2.
Dephytinized flaxseed flours by phytase enzyme and fermentation: functional ingredients to enhance the nutritional quality of noodles
Authors: Yaver Elif
Published: October 2022

BACKGROUND

Phytic acid is an antinutritional compound that reduces the bioavailability of minerals and proteins. Flaxseed is a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants. In this study, flaxseed flour was dephytinized by phytase enzyme and fermentation. Untreated and dephytinized flaxseed flours were used in noodle production at 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% levels to improve nutritional quality.

RESULTS

The addition of flaxseed flours did not show an adverse effect on the cooking loss values of noodles (4.22–4.85%). Firmness values of noodles containing 10% flaxseed flour were close to the control (0% flaxseed flour). The ash, protein and fat levels of noodles were enhanced with the addition of flaxseed flours. The use of 30% phytase‐treated flaxseed flour in noodles elicited lower phytic acid concentration (1.35 g kg−1) than the control (1.52 g kg−1). The greatest total phenolic contents in noodles were obtained with the inclusion of fermented flour. Besides that, noodles made from flaxseed flours exhibited stronger antioxidant activity than the control. The overall acceptability scores of noodles containing 10% and 20% dephytinized flours were close to the control.

CONCLUSION

The findings demonstrated that the inclusion of dephytinized flaxseed flours up to 20% can allow the production of functional noodles with acceptable quality. Moreover, phytase enzyme treatment method revealed lower phytic acid content than fermentation method in noodles and better antioxidant properties than untreated noodles. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
The beneficial effect of leaf removal during fruit set on physiological, biochemical, and qualitative indices and volatile organic compound profile of the Cypriot reference cultivar ‘Xynisteri’
Authors: Georgiadou Egli C. , Mina Minas , Neoptolemou Varnavas , Koundouras Stefanos , D'Onofrio Claudio , Bellincontro Andrea , Mencarelli Fabio , Fotopoulos Vasileios , Manganaris George A.
Published: October 2022

Background

‘Xynisteri’ is the reference Cypriot white cultivar that, despite its significant societal and economic impact, is poorly characterized regarding its qualitative properties, while scarce information exists regarding its aroma profile. In the current study, the effect of leaf removal during fruit set (BBCH 71) on 6‐year cordon‐trained, spur‐pruned grapevines was assessed and an array of physiological, biochemical, and qualitative indices were monitored during successive developmental stages (BBCH 75, BBCH 85, BBCH 87, and BBCH 89). Grapes were additionally monitored for the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profile during the advanced on‐vine developmental stages (BBCH 85–BBCH 89) with the employment of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), Fourier‐transform near infrared (FT‐NIR) spectra and electronic nose (E‐nose) techniques.

Results

Grape berries from the vines subjected to leaf removal were characterized by higher solid soluble sugars (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), tartaric acid, and ammonium nitrogen contents, while this was not the case for assimilable amino nitrogen (primary amino nitrogen). A total of 75 compounds were identified and quantified, including aliphatic alcohols, benzenic compounds, phenols, vanillins, monoterpenes, and C13‐norisoprenoids. Leaf removal led to enhanced amounts of glycosylated aroma compounds, mainly monoterpenes, and C13‐norisoprenoids. Chemometric analysis, used through FT‐NIR and E‐nose, showed that the aromatic patterns detected were well associated to the grape ripening trend and differences between leaf removal‐treated and control grapes were detectable during fully ripe stage.

Conclusion

Leaf removal at fruit set resulted in an overall induction of secondary metabolism, with special reference to glycosylated aroma compounds, namely monoterpenes and C13‐norisoprenoids. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Slightly acidic electrolyzed water–slurry ice: shelf‐life extension and quality maintenance of mackerel (Pneumatophorus japonicus) during chilled storage
Authors: Lan Weiqing , Zhang Bingjie , Liu Lin , Pu Tianting , Zhou Yuxiao , Xie Jing
Published: October 2022

BACKGROUND

Different ice treatments were applied for the preservation of mackerel (Pneumatophorus japonicus). The quality changes of samples treated with flake ice (Control), slurry ice (SI) and slightly acidic electrolyzed water–slurry ice (SAEW‐SI) in microbiological, physicochemical, protein characteristic, and sensory evaluation were investigated during chilled storage.

RESULTS

SAEW‐SI showed a significant advantage for the inhibition of microbial growth, which could extend the shelf‐life for another 144 h at least, compared with Control group. SAEW‐SI treatment also showed a strong inhibition for the increase in pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB‐N), K‐value, histamine and metmyoglobin (MetMb) content. Results of texture profile analysis (TPA) and water holding capacity (WHC) indicated that SAEW‐SI can obviously suppress the decrease of hardness value, and have a better protective effect on muscle structure compared to flake ice and SI (P < 0.05). During the whole experiment, the highest sensory scores and a* were obtained in the SAEW‐SI group, which indicated that SAEW‐SI treatment could maintain better sensory characteristics. According to the results of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and fluorescence spectroscopy analysis, SAEW‐SI treatment could effectively retard protein degradation and lipid oxidation compared with Control and SI group. In maintaining the quality of mackerel, SAEW‐SI shows a better effect than SI due to the synergistic effect of fence factors.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrated that the shelf‐life of mackerel could be extended and the quality of mackerel could be maintained effectively with SAEW‐SI treatment during chilled storage. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Metabolomics and network pharmacological analysis to explore the mechanism of ginseng treatment for spleen‐qi deficiency
Authors: Liu Ming , Cai Yongyu , Li Fangtong , Wu Yongxi , Zhang Meiyu , Wang Yizhu , Fan Meiling , Li Bo , Huang Xin , Zheng Fei , Yue Hao
Published: October 2022

Ginseng is the main Chinese herbal medicine for tonifying Qi and invigorating the spleen. It has been used to treat spleen‐qi deficiency with good protective effects for thousands of years, however, its biological mechanism has not been fully elucidated. This study aims to explore the mechanism of ginseng in the treatment of spleen‐qi deficiency by using a comprehensive method combining metabolomics and network pharmacological analysis. Gas chromatography‐mass spectroscopy was applied for investigating the changes in urine metabolites in spleen‐qi deficiency rats and after treatment with ginseng. Metabolomics and network pharmacology analysis were applied to screen potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets of ginseng in the treatment of spleen‐qi deficiency, respectively. Molecular docking was employed to further evaluate the docking mode of potential biomarkers and therapeutic target proteins. The results of metabolomics showed that the therapeutic effects of ginseng are mainly related to its regulation of three metabolic pathways. The molecular structure of potential biomarkers and common proteins was further analyzed by molecular docking to verify its effectiveness. Ginseng has good pharmacological effects by controlling key targets of related metabolic pathways, signal pathways, and potential biomarkers.
InCISE: Instrument for Comprehensive Incisional and Surgical Evaluation
Authors: Lassig Amy Anne D. , Lindgren Bruce R. , Wilson Anna C. , Joseph Anne M. , Davison Mark , Yueh Bevan
Published: October 2022

Objective

The evaluation of healing after head and neck surgery is currently qualitative and non‐standardized, limiting the quality of surgical healing assessments in clinical and research settings. We sought to develop an objective, standardized wound assessment score, and hypothesize that a reliable instrument can be developed to evaluate head and neck surgical wounds.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary‐care, academic head and neck surgery practice. Patients undergoing head and neck surgery were enrolled. A digital photograph protocol was developed for evaluating healing surgical wounds. A panel of experts developed and refined a wound healing score and established reliability, reproducibility, internal consistency, and validity of the score.

Results

InCISE: Instrument for comprehensive incisional and surgical evaluation was created. The utility of our wound healing score was assessed using classical test theory. We performed the major steps of establishing reliability in head and neck surgeons: (1) internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.81), (2) inter‐observer reliability (intra‐class correlation = 0.76), and (3) intra‐rater reliability (intra‐class correlation = 0.87), and content validity (through focus groups). Our composite measure was found to have strong internal consistency, inter‐rater reliability, and intra‐rater reliability. Preliminary work suggests criterion validity via associations with physical health related quality of life (SF‐12).

Conclusion

A wound healing score for head and neck surgery, InCISE, has been developed and is reliable, reproducible, and consistent. Although content validity is present and criterion validity is suggested, work continues to establish validity in this instrument to allow for expanded clinical and research use.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 133:2166–2173, 2023
Optimised dry processing of protein concentrates from Australian pulses: A comparative study of faba bean, yellow pea and red lentil seed material
Authors: Skylas Daniel J. , Johnson Joel B. , Kalitsis John , Richard Sonya , Whiteway Chris , Wesley Ian , Naiker Mani , Quail Ken J.
Published: October 2022

Milling and air classification settings were optimised for production of protein concentrates from Australian faba bean, yellow pea and red lentil seed material. Pulses were milled to flour of three progressively finer particle size distributions (D50 of 23–25, 16–18 and 13–14 μm) and air classified at classifier wheel speeds of 7080, 9600 and 10,200 rpm. Maximum protein concentration was reported for pulse flours (D50 of 13–14 μm) at 9600 rpm. Protein concentrations of 61.4, 58.1 and 61.0 g/100 g (db.), reflecting a fold increase in protein content of 1.9, 2.3 and 2.1, were reported for faba bean, yellow pea and red lentil, respectively. Protein, ash, fat and total dietary fibre contents were significantly higher in fine fractions (p < 0.05), compared with coarse fractions, resulting in protein concentrates with enhanced nutritional properties. Amino acid score (AAS) of protein concentrates highlighted deficiencies in sulphur‐containing amino acids, methionine and cysteine (MET + CYS), and tryptophan. Based on the lowest AAS (MET + CYS), protein concentrates were ranked highest for yellow pea (0.75), followed by faba bean (0.58) and red lentil (0.51). Phytochemical analysis demonstrated that bioactive constituents also co‐concentrated with protein (fine fraction), potentially leading to protein concentrates with enhanced health benefits. Shelf‐life assessment for the original flours and protein concentrates indicated the onset of rancidity after 3 months of storage. As fat content co‐concentrated with protein, the rancidity (%) scores were higher for protein concentrates compared with the original flours. This demonstrates the importance of developing effective treatments, suitable for dry processing, which can extend shelf‐life and stability of protein concentrate ingredients for domestic and export markets. The objective of this study was to increase the knowledge available on dry processing of protein concentrates from Australian pulses. The information generated from this study will look to inform future commercial scale processing operations.
Periodic boundary layer separation and lateral intrusions observed above a sloping lakebed
Authors: Nielson Jeffrey R. , Henderson Stephen M.
Published: October 2022

Lateral intrusions flowing from the boundaries of lakes and oceans might influence basin‐scale distributions of heat, chemical solutes, sediments, and organisms. Here, observations of numerous intrusions from multiple locations in a small lake were used to examine the relation of intrusions to a lakewide internal seiche, and to estimate mean exchange between sloping bottom boundary layers (BBLs) and the lake interior. BBL waters were observed periodically separating from the bed and flowing laterally offshore. Boundary layer separation was initiated where strong downslope flows encountered upslope‐propagating temperature fronts. These separation events propagated upslope, coherent with the vertically propagating internal seiche, resembling previously reported cases of upslope‐propagating internal bores. Following separation, jets flowed offshore immediately above temperature fronts, transporting boundary layer water at least 61 m into the interior. Jet propagation could be traced upwards, from the bed at 9.4 m depth to the base of the surface mixed layer. Mean offshore transport was most intense within the metalimnion (4–7 m depth). Intruding intermediate‐temperature thermocline water was likely supplied both by river inputs and by boundary mixing of cold and warm waters. These findings suggest that periodic jets, resulting from seiche‐induced boundary layer separation, transported significant quantities of water from the boundary layer toward the stratified lake interior, with possible implications for distributions of sediments, solutes, and organisms.
Chernoff approximations of Feller semigroups in Riemannian manifolds
Authors: Mazzucchi Sonia , Moretti Valter , Remizov Ivan , Smolyanov Oleg
Published: October 2022

Chernoff approximations of Feller semigroups and the associated diffusion processes in Riemannian manifolds are studied. The manifolds are assumed to be of bounded geometry, thus including all compact manifolds and also a wide range of non‐compact manifolds. Sufficient conditions are established for a class of second order elliptic operators to generate a Feller semigroup on a (generally non‐compact) manifold of bounded geometry. A construction of Chernoff approximations is presented for these Feller semigroups in terms of shift operators. This provides approximations of solutions to initial value problems for parabolic equations with variable coefficients on the manifold. It also yields weak convergence of a sequence of random walks on the manifolds to the diffusion processes associated with the elliptic generator. For parallelizable manifolds this result is applied in particular to the representation of Brownian motion on the manifolds as limits of the corresponding random walks.
Small molecule inhibitors targeting the cancers
Authors: Liu Gui‐Hong , Chen Tao , Zhang Xin , Ma Xue‐Lei , Shi Hua‐Shan
Published: October 2022

Compared with traditional therapies, targeted therapy has merits in selectivity, efficacy, and tolerability. Small molecule inhibitors are one of the primary targeted therapies for cancer. Due to their advantages in a wide range of targets, convenient medication, and the ability to penetrate into the central nervous system, many efforts have been devoted to developing more small molecule inhibitors. To date, 88 small molecule inhibitors have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration to treat cancers. Despite remarkable progress, small molecule inhibitors in cancer treatment still face many obstacles, such as low response rate, short duration of response, toxicity, biomarkers, and resistance. To better promote the development of small molecule inhibitors targeting cancers, we comprehensively reviewed small molecule inhibitors involved in all the approved agents and pivotal drug candidates in clinical trials arranged by the signaling pathways and the classification of small molecule inhibitors. We discussed lessons learned from the development of these agents, the proper strategies to overcome resistance arising from different mechanisms, and combination therapies concerned with small molecule inhibitors. Through our review, we hoped to provide insights and perspectives for the research and development of small molecule inhibitors in cancer treatment.
Prophylactic lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) for preventing lymphedema after sarcoma resection in the lower limb: A report of three cases and literature review
Authors: Wan Rou , Hussain Arif , Kuruoglu Doga , Houdek Matthew T. , Moran Steven L.
Published: October 2022

Patients with soft tissue tumors of the lower extremities are at greater risk to develop postoperative disruption of lymphatic vessels. Currently, there is no widely effective cure for lymphatic dysfunction. Therefore, the best strategy is to prevent it and reconstruct efficient drainage as soon as the original pathway is damaged. We present a report of three prophylactic LVA cases after sarcoma resection in the lower limb, and a literature review to show the feasibility of prophylactic LVAs. The patients were 35, 73, and 77 years old, respectively, at the time of the procedure. All three patients had sarcoma in the medial thigh and underwent radiation therapy before the surgery. The locations of the LVAs include the medial thigh and medial and lateral calf. During the surgery, methylene blue and/or indocyanine green were injected to identify lymphatic vessels. Postoperative recovery was uneventful immediately after the surgery. At follow‐up visits, all three patients reported improved functions with no significant swelling in the lower limb. One patient experienced a surgical wound infection that resolved after antibiotic admission. Two patients had a history of cardiac diseases, a major risk factor for developing postoperative lymphedema, but these two patients did not develop lymphedema with the treatment of prophylactic LVAs. These results suggest that prophylactic LVA may be an effective strategy to prevent secondary lymphedema after sarcoma resection. Further investigation is warranted.
Iterative training of robust k‐space interpolation networks for improved image reconstruction with limited scan specific training samples
Authors: Dawood Peter , Breuer Felix , Stebani Jannik , Burd Paul , Homolya István , Oberberger Johannes , Jakob Peter M. , Blaimer Martin
Published: October 2022

Purpose

To evaluate an iterative learning approach for enhanced performance of robust artificial‐neural‐networks for k‐space interpolation (RAKI), when only a limited amount of training data (auto‐calibration signals [ACS]) are available for accelerated standard 2D imaging.

Methods

In a first step, the RAKI model was tailored for the case of limited training data amount. In the iterative learning approach (termed iterative RAKI [iRAKI]), the tailored RAKI model is initially trained using original and augmented ACS obtained from a linear parallel imaging reconstruction. Subsequently, the RAKI convolution filters are refined iteratively using original and augmented ACS extracted from the previous RAKI reconstruction. Evaluation was carried out on 200 retrospectively undersampled in vivo datasets from the fastMRI neuro database with different contrast settings.

Results

For limited training data (18 and 22 ACS lines for R = 4 and R = 5, respectively), iRAKI outperforms standard RAKI by reducing residual artifacts and yields better noise suppression when compared to standard parallel imaging, underlined by quantitative reconstruction quality metrics. Additionally, iRAKI shows better performance than both GRAPPA and standard RAKI in case of pre‐scan calibration with varying contrast between training‐ and undersampled data.

Conclusion

RAKI benefits from the iterative learning approach, which preserves the noise suppression feature, but requires less original training data for the accurate reconstruction of standard 2D images thereby improving net acceleration.
Acoustic Imaging Observes Predator–Prey Interactions between Bull Trout and Migrating Sockeye Salmon Smolts
Authors: Cheng Matthew L. H. , Hinch Scott G. , Juanes Francis , Healy Stephen J. , Lotto Andrew G. , Mapley Sydney J. , Furey Nathan B.
Published: October 2022

Annual migrations by juvenile Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. smolts are predictable, presenting opportunities for predators to exploit these seasonal prey pulses. Directly observing predator–prey interactions to understand factors affecting predation may be possible via dual-frequency identification sonar (DIDSON) acoustic imaging. Within Chilko Lake, British Columbia, prior telemetry and stomach content analyses suggested that the out-migration of Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka smolts influences the movements and aggregations of Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus that feed extensively on smolts during their out-migration. Bull Trout captured at a government-installed counting fence exhibited high consumption of smolts, but it is only assumed that feeding occurred directly at the fence. We used DIDSON to assess fine-scale predator–prey interactions between Sockeye Salmon smolts and Bull Trout over 10 d during the 2016 smolt out-migration. We found that smolt–Bull Trout interactions were correlated with smolt densities at the counting fence, consistent with the prior diet studies in the system. Predator–prey interactions were also coupled with nocturnal migratory behaviors of Sockeye Salmon smolts, presumably to minimize predation risk. These results demonstrate that DIDSON technology can record interactions between predators and migrating prey at a resolution that can identify variability in space and time and provide insight on the role of anthropogenic structures (e.g., counting fences) in mediating such interactions.
Approximate analytical solution of tunneling‐induced responses of a soil–foundation system using contact mechanics
Authors: Hong Xuefei , Zhang Dingli , Zhou Mozhen , Fang Qian , Hou Yanjuan , Fang Huangcheng , Sun Zhenyu
Published: October 2022

Estimating the tunneling‐induced responses of a soil–foundation system is crucial for safety control in urban underground engineering. In existing analytical research, the soil–foundation interaction is considered based on the Winkler soil model, with minimal focus on the continuum soil model. Hence, in this study, based on the continuum soil model, an approximate analytical solution is derived to predict the tunneling‐induced responses of a soil–foundation system considering the contact effect, where an approximation by replacing the surface of the complex variable solution for an elastic half‐plane with a tunnel with the mathematical expression of Sagaseta's ground loss settlement formula is adopted. A new strategy is proposed to optimize the derivation process, where the normal contact pressure after tunnel excavation is directly determined using the contact mechanics, and the proposed solution is obtained using the superposition principle. Subsequently, the approximation is proven to be accurate when the ratio of the buried depth to the tunnel radius is greater than 2.00. The proposed solution meets the given conditions and is in good agreement with numerical results, which verify the correctness of analytical solution. Furthermore, a parametric study is performed to investigate the influences of the key parameters on the mechanical responses. The results indicate that the proposed solution can quantitatively describe the nonlinear contact characteristics in the soil–foundation system; the contact effect is found to contribute to the discontinuous displacement and stress concentration when subjected to the significant effects of tunnel excavation.
Klinefelter Syndrome: What should we tell prospective parents?
Authors: White Mary , Zacharin Margaret R. , Fawcett Susan , McGillivray George
Published: October 2022

Klinefelter syndrome (KS) or 47,XXY is the most common sex chromosome aneuploidy (SCA), occurring at a prevalence of 1 in 600 male pregnancies. Historically, only 25% of individuals with KS came to medical attention, for a range of issues across the life course including under‐virilisation at birth, developmental and social concerns in childhood, absence, delay or arrest of puberty in adolescence or infertility in adulthood. Our understanding of the phenotypic spectrum of KS has been largely influenced by this ascertainment bias. With increasing uptake of antenatal noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT), a corresponding increase in identification of KS has been documented. Population‐based longitudinal data from infancy to adulthood on these individuals is lacking, which impedes balanced antenatal genetic counselling and raises issues for prospective parents and clinicians alike.
Functionalized carbon nanotube and carbon nanodot modified multiblock poly(arylene ether ketone sulfone) copolymer as proton exchange composite membranes for fuel cell applications
Authors: Dhiman Rashi , Thakur Tamanna , Gaur Bharti , Singha Amar Singh
Published: October 2022

The present study describes the successful synthesis of –COOH functionalized carbon nanodots (f‐CNDs) via pyrolysis of citric acid and 4,4′‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)valeric acid (DPA‐OH, Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, Missouri, United States) based hydrophilic oligomer at 250 °C. The multiblock copolymers were prepared by a coupling reaction between phenoxide terminated valeric acid based poly(arylene ether ketone) (DPA‐OH) hydrophilic oligomer and decafluorobiphenyl (DFBP, Alfa Aesar, Haverhill, Massachusetts, United States) end‐capped poly(arylene ether sulfone) (BP‐X‐F) hydrophobic oligomers (where X is 6, 9 and 12). Multiblock poly(arylene ether ketone sulfone) copolymer crosslinked membranes were prepared using 6F‐bisphenol‐A based novolac epoxy resin (EFN) and –COOH functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes/functionalized carbon nanodots (f‐MWCNTs/f‐CNDs, Nanoshell company, Utah, U. S) were used for the preparation of acid doped composite membranes for fuel cell applications. From high resolution TEM images, the average size of the prepared f‐CNDs found to be ca 10–12 nm. The N1 multiblock copolymer membrane with loading of 0.9 wt% ratio of CNTs showed better proton exchange membrane related properties such as proton conductivity (0.136 S cm−1), ion exchange capacity (1.18 meq g−1) and selectivity ratio (0.17) compared to the prepared pristine, crosslinked and CND based composite membranes. The overall results revealed that the composite membranes with loading of 0.9 wt% of CNTs and CNDs exhibited a superior combination of fuel cell related properties such as higher proton conductivity, high dimensional and oxidative stability and low methanol permeability and also showed better fuel cell performance compared to the respective pristine and EFN crosslinked membranes. © 2022 Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Ceramic‐hydrogel composite as carrier for cold‐plasma reactive‐species: Safety and osteogenic capacity in vivo
Authors: Solé‐Martí Xavi , Labay Cédric , Raymond Yago , Franch Jordi , Benitez Raul , Ginebra Maria‐Pau , Canal Cristina
Published: October 2022

Plasma‐treated hydrogels have been put forward as a potential selective osteosarcoma therapy through the release of reactive species to the diseased site. To allow their translation to the clinics, it is crucial to show that the oxidative stress delivered by such hydrogels does not adversely affect healthy tissues. This is evaluated here by investigating the in vivo performance of a robocasted calcium phosphate cement infiltrated by a plasma‐treated hydrogel. The plasma‐treated composite implanted in a critical size bone defect of healthy rabbits revealed its safety, allowing equivalent bone ingrowth compared to the control scaffolds and to that of direct plasma treatment of the bone defect. This opens the door for using composite biomaterials containing plasma‐generated reactive species in bone therapies.
Inhaler technique in a pediatric emergency department: Impact of an education intervention among healthcare professionals
Authors: Jové‐Blanco Ana , Toledano‐Revenga Javier , Rivas‐García Arístides , Vazquez‐López Paula , Lorente‐Romero Jorge , Marañón Rafael
Published: October 2022

Background

Inhaler technique (IT) knowledge among healthcare providers is poor. The aim was to improve Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) healthcare providers' IT technique by carrying out an education intervention and sustain it for 6 months.

Methods

Open‐label, quasi‐experimental, prospective, and unicentric study. Healthcare professionals working at the PED were enrolled. The study was developed in three phases: baseline evaluation and education intervention (P1) and reevaluation 1 month (P2) and 6 months (P3) after the education intervention. Participants fulfilled an eight‐question theoretical test. Practical skills were evaluated by demonstrating IT in all three phases. The education intervention consisted in a verbal explanation of IT followed by a demonstration of IT with metered‐dose inhaler using a mannequin.

Results

A total of 84 healthcare providers (medical residents, nurses, and nursing assistants) were involved. In the theoretical questionnaire, the mean score at baseline was 4.4/8 (SD 1.7) improving to 6.3/8 (SD 1.2) in P2 and 6.47/8 (SD 1.1) in P3. In the IT evaluation for children <7 years old, the score improved from 5.7/7 (SD 1.3) to 6.5/7 in P2 and 6.7/7 in P3 (p < 0.001). For children >7 years old, the mean score of IT at baseline was 3.1/10 (SD 4), which improved to 7.4/10 (SD 3) and 8.2/10 in P2 and P3, respectively (p < 0.001). Only professional category influenced results at baseline.

Conclusion

Healthcare providers' theoretical knowledge and practical skills on IT are low. The education intervention performed is a useful strategy to ameliorate IT among healthcare providers.
Efficacy and safety of sotrovimab in patients with COVID‐19: A rapid review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Amani Bahman , Amani Behnam
Published: October 2022

The therapeutic potential of sotrovimab in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is a controversial issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sotrovimab in COVID‐19 patients. To this end, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, medRxiv, and Google Scholar were searched up to 15 August 2022. The reference lists of key studies were also scanned to find additional records. Meta‐analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta‐Analysis. Seventeen studies involving 27,429 patients were included. A significant difference was observed in mortality rate (odds ratio [OR] = 0.40; 95% CI: 0.25–0.63, p = 0.00), hospitalisation rate (OR = 0.53; 95% CI: 0.43–0.65. p = 0.00), hospital or death rate (OR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.25–0.73, p = 0.00), the need for mechanical ventilation (OR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.33–0.96, p = 0.03), and ICU admission (OR = 0.33; 95% CI: 0.17–0.67, p = 0.00) of the sotrovimab‐receiving group compared to those having no sotrovimab. However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of disease progression (OR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.16–1.24, p = 0.12) and emergency department visit (OR = 1.01; 95% CI: 0.83–1.24, p = 0.87). The two groups had no significant difference in terms of incidence of adverse events (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.78–1.23, p = 0.88). The findings of the present meta‐analysis support that sotrovimab could be an effective and safe treatment option to reduce mortality and hospitalisation rate in both Delta and Omicron Variants of COVID‐19.