bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychological treatment of traumatic memories in COVID‐19 survivors
Authors: Dinapoli Loredana , Ferrarese Daniele , Belella Daniela , Carnevale Stefania , Camardese Giovanni , Sani Gabriele , Chieffo Daniela Pia Rosaria
Published: August 2022

The COVID‐19 pandemic, which has affected a significant number of individuals worldwide, is generating serious mental health issues. Recovered COVID‐19 patients have experienced traumatic events related to their symptoms, isolation, possible hospitalization, bereavement, fear of infecting loved ones and the physical consequences of COVID‐19. One effective psychological treatment for these patients is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). The aim of this paper is to describe the therapeutic intervention and effects of EMDR in a pool of COVID‐19 survivors referred to an integrated psychological/psychiatric outpatient service. Twelve patients, comprising of nine males and three females, underwent EMDR psychotherapy from October 2020 to February 2022. Each patient received 8–16 weekly treatment sessions. The standard EMDR protocol of eight stages was administered to enable desensitization and reprocessing of four main targets: first positive swab, hospitalization, isolation and fear for relatives' health. Efficacy of EMDR was demonstrated by the significant improvement at clinical scale for subjective distress caused by traumatic events. For the therapists, carrying out these treatments was an intense and challenging experience. In fact, the perceived distance between therapist and patient was less defined than in other hospital settings because the pandemic affects everyone equally. However, with the widespread availability of vaccines and although the pandemic is still ongoing with the emergence of new variants, a window of improvement in the mental health landscape is starting to open up.
Supervised machine learning in microfluidic impedance flow cytometry for improved particle size determination
Authors: de Bruijn Douwe S. , ten Eikelder Henricus R. A. , Papadimitriou Vasileios A. , Olthuis Wouter , van den Berg Albert
Published: August 2022

The assessment of particle and cell size in electrical microfluidic flow cytometers has become common practice. Nevertheless, in flow cytometers with coplanar electrodes accurate determination of particle size is difficult, owing to the inhomogeneous electric field. Pre‐defined signal templates and compensation methods have been introduced to correct for this positional dependence, but are cumbersome when dealing with irregular signal shapes. We introduce a simple and accurate post‐processing method without the use of pre‐defined signal templates and compensation functions using supervised machine learning. We implemented a multiple linear regression model and show an average reduction of the particle diameter variation by 37% with respect to an earlier processing method based on a feature extraction algorithm and compensation function. Furthermore, we demonstrate its application in flow cytometry by determining the size distribution of a population of small (4.6 ± 0.9 μm) and large (5.9 ± 0.8 μm) yeast cells. The improved performance of this coplanar, two electrode chip enables precise cell size determination in easy to fabricate impedance flow cytometers.
U.S. Department of Education to amend Section 504 regulations
Authors: Charmatz Marc
Published: August 2022

The United States Department of Education announced that it intends to “strengthen and protect rights for students with disabilities by amending regulations implementing Section 504” of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 794 (see https://bit.ly/3arTEYq).
Genetic confirmation of a hybrid between two highly divergent cardinalid species: A rose‐breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) and a scarlet tanager (Piranga olivacea)
Authors: Toews David P. L. , Rhinehart Tessa A. , Mulvihill Robert , Galen Spencer , Gosser Stephen M. , Johnson Tom , Williamson Jessie L. , Wood Andrew W. , Latta Steven C.
Published: August 2022

Using low‐coverage whole‐genome sequencing, analysis of vocalizations, and inferences from natural history, we document a first‐generation hybrid between a rose‐breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) and a scarlet tanager (Piranga olivacea). These two species occur sympatrically throughout much of eastern North America, although were not previously known to interbreed. Following the field identification of a putative hybrid, we use genetic and bioacoustic data to show that a rose‐breasted grosbeak was the maternal parent and a scarlet tanager was the paternal parent of the hybrid, whose song was similar to the latter species. These two species diverged >10 million years ago, and thus it is surprising to find a hybrid formed under natural conditions in the wild. Notably, the hybrid has an exceptionally heterozygous genome, with a conservative estimate of a heterozygous base every 100 bp. The observation that this hybrid of such highly divergent parental taxa has survived until adulthood serves as another example of the capacity for hybrid birds to survive with an exceptionally divergent genomic composition.
Investigation of formation and ultrasonic disassembling of RBC Aggregation aimed for maintenance of blood channel
Authors: Hatakeyama Mayu , Akamatsu Yuichiro , Sato Takayuki
Published: August 2022

Establishment of real‐time monitoring technique for blood viscosity during extracorporeal circulation treatment is needed. We have demonstrated that red blood cell (RBC, hereafter) aggregation degree, which highly correlates with the blood viscosity, can be estimated by the ultrasound spectroscopic observation of the RBC and the defining of the peak frequency by the Fast Fourier Transform process. In this study, the peak frequency was measured to investigate the aggregation degree of RBC flowing in a simple heart‐lung machine. In addition, to disassemble the RBC aggregations that might cause the clogging of the circuit, a disassemble technique of the RBC aggregations using a focused 5 MHz ultrasonic transducer was also proposed. As the first step of this study, the disassembling of the RBC aggregations was carried out under the still condition and its effect was confirmed by the peak frequency method.
Trajectories in New York Heart Association functional class in heart failure across the ejection fraction spectrum: data from the Swedish Heart Failure Registry
Authors: Lindberg Felix , Lund Lars H. , Benson Lina , Dahlström Ulf , Karlström Patric , Linde Cecilia , Rosano Giuseppe , Savarese Gianluigi
Published: August 2022

Aims

To investigate incidence, predictors and prognostic implications of longitudinal New York Heart Association (NYHA) class changes (i.e. improving or worsening vs. stable NYHA class) in heart failure (HF) across the ejection fraction (EF) spectrum.

Methods and results

From the Swedish HF Registry, 13 535 patients with EF and ≥2 NYHA class assessments were considered. Multivariable multinomial regressions were fitted to identify the independent predictors of NYHA change. Over a 1‐year follow‐up, 69% of patients had stable, 17% improved, and 14% worsened NYHA class. Follow‐up in specialty care predicted improving NYHA class, whereas an in‐hospital patient registration, lower EF, renal disease, lower mean arterial pressure, older age, and longer HF duration predicted worsening. The association between NYHA change and subsequent outcomes was assessed with multivariable Cox models. When adjusting for the NYHA class at baseline, improving NYHA class was independently associated with lower while worsening with higher risk of all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality, and first HF hospitalization. After adjustment for the NYHA class at follow‐up, NYHA class change did not predict morbidity/mortality. NYHA class assessment at baseline and follow‐up predicted morbidity/mortality on top of the changes. Results were consistent across the EF spectrum.

Conclusion

In a large real‐world HF population, NYHA class trajectories predicted morbidity/mortality after extensive adjustments. However, the prognostic role was entirely explained by the resulting NYHA class, i.e. the follow‐up value. Our results highlight that considering one‐time NYHA class assessment, rather than trajectories, might be the preferable approach in clinical practice and for clinical trial design.
Analysis of Accelerated Damp Heat Test for Degradation Analysis and Recovery Method of Photovoltaic Module
Authors: Zahid Muhammad Aleem , Yousuf Hasnain , de Assis Rabelo Matheus , Cho Sung Bae , Yang Yeon Won , Cho EunChel , Yi Junsin
Published: August 2022

Conventional damp heat (DH) tests conducted at 85 °C and 85% relative humidity (RH) for module degradation cannot reproduce outdoor failures in a short time and it may take up to 4000 h to reproduce multienvironmental stress values. Therefore, an accelerated DH test for photovoltaic (PV) modules is proposed, in which temperatures up to 120 °C are applied to accelerate the degradation mechanism while keeping the humidity fixed at 85%RH and module performance and electroluminescence images are investigated. The environmental stress detected after 600 h at 120 °C/85%RH is comparable with the results of the DH test recorded at 85 °C/85%RH for ≈5000 h. Moreover, the power drop by replacing the backsheet/ethylenevinyl acetate (EVA) and backsheet/EVA/solar cell for one cell area in the PV module after 1000 h DH test at 85 °C and 85%RH is mitigated. After replacing the EVA and backsheet of one cell from the minimodule, a power recovery of 1.6% is achieved. By replacing the backsheet, EVA, and one solar cell from the minimodule, a power recovery of 1.9% is achieved. This analysis indicates that instead of replacing the complete module, it is possible to replace the damaged part of the module.
Procedure Based on External Quantum Efficiency for Reliable Characterization of Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Mercaldo Lucia V. , Bobeico Eugenia , De Maria Antonella , Della Noce Marco , Ferrara Manuela , Lancellotti Laura , Romano Antonio , Sannino Gennaro V. , Nasti Giuseppe , Abate Antonio , Delli Veneri Paola
Published: August 2022

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have the potential for widespread application, but challenges remain for a reliable characterization of their performance. Standardized protocols for measuring and reporting are still debated. Focusing on the short circuit current density (J
SC), current–voltage characteristics (J–V) and external quantum efficiency (EQE) are collected to estimate the parameter. Still, they often provide a mismatch above 1 mA cm−2, resulting in a possible 5% or higher error. Combining experimental data and optical simulations, it is demonstrated that the EQE can provide a reliable estimate of the J
SC that could otherwise easily be overestimated by J–V. With access to the internally transmitted light through simulations, an upper limit for EQE is defined depending on the front layers. Details on the origin of the spectral shape and contributions to the optical losses are obtained with further optical simulations, providing hints for cell optimization to achieve a photocurrent gain. The authors use solution‐processed n‐i‐p PSCs with triple‐cation mixed‐halide absorbers as demonstrators and ultimately come to the proposal of an upgrade of the present best practices in PSC efficiency measurements. Still, the approach and conclusions are general and apply to cells with all designs and chemical formulations.
Single channel properties of pannexin‐1 and connexin‐43 hemichannels and P2X7 receptors in astrocytes cultured from rodent spinal cords
Authors: Garré Juan Mauricio , Bukauskas Feliksas F. , Bennett Michael V. L.
Published: August 2022

Astrocytes express surface channels involved in purinergic signaling. Among these channels, pannexin‐1 (Px1) and connexin‐43 (Cx43) hemichannels (HCs) release ATP that acts directly, or through its derivatives, on neurons and glia via purinergic receptors. Although HCs are functional, that is, open and close under physiological and pathological conditions, single channel properties of Px1 HCs in astrocytes have not been defined. Here, we developed a dual voltage clamp technique in HeLa cells expressing human Px1‐YFP, and then applied this system to rodent spinal astrocytes to compare their single channel properties with other surface channels, that is, Cx43 HCs and P2X7 receptors (P2X7Rs). Channels were recorded in cell attached patches and evoked with ramp cycles applied through another pipette in whole cell voltage clamp. The mean unitary conductances of Px1 HCs were comparable in HeLa Px1‐YFP cells and spinal astrocytes, ~42 and ~48 pS, respectively. Based on their unitary conductance, voltage‐dependence, and unitary activity after pharmacological and gene silencing, Px1 HCs in astrocytes could be distinguished from Cx43 HCs and P2X7Rs. Channel activity of Px1 HCs and P2X7Rs was greater than that of Cx43 HCs in control astrocytes during ramps. Unitary activity of Px1 HCs was decreased and that of Cx43 HCs and P2X7Rs increased in astrocytes treated with fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF‐1). In summary, we resolved single channel properties of three different surface channels involved in purinergic signaling in spinal astrocytes, which were differentially modulated by FGF‐1, a growth factor involved in neurodevelopment, inflammation and repair.
Overexpression of circFNDC3B promotes the progression of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma through the miR‐1322/MED1 axis
Authors: Chen Xiao , Kong Deyu , Deng Jun , Mo Fei , Liang Jin
Published: August 2022

Background

The potential role of circFNDC3B in regulating oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma development (OTSCC) remains unknown.

Methods

The level of circFNDC3B in OTSCC tissues or cell lines was measured and its function in vitro and in vivo was analyzed. Interactions among circFNDC3B, miR‐1322, and MED1 were verified by luciferase reporter and RNA pull‐down assays.

Results

The level of circFNDC3B in tissues or cell lines of OTSCC was higher than that in control groups. siRNA‐mediated circFNDC3B inhibition resulted in weakened proliferation, migration, and invasion, which was reversed by miR‐1322. Overexpression of MED1 in OTSCC cells partially reversed the tumor suppression functions of si‐circFNDC3B or miR‐1322 mimics in vitro. circFNDC3B overexpression dramatically promoted tumor growth in vivo. circFNDC3B directly bound with miR‐1322 and consequently promoted the MED1 expression in OTSCC cells.

Conclusions

The circFNDC3B/miR‐1322/MED1 axis participates in OTSCC progression, which may provide novel therapeutic targets for OTSCC.
Assessing mild cognitive impairment using object‐location memory in immersive virtual environments
Authors: Castegnaro Andrea , Howett David , Li Adrienne , Harding Elizabeth , Chan Dennis , Burgess Neil , King John
Published: August 2022

Pathological changes in the medial temporal lobe (MTL) are found in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and aging. The earliest pathological accumulation of tau colocalizes with the areas of the MTL involved in object processing as part of a wider anterolateral network. Here, we sought to assess the diagnostic potential of memory for object locations in iVR environments in individuals at high risk of AD dementia (amnestic mild cognitive impairment [aMCI] n = 23) as compared to age‐related cognitive decline. Consistent with our primary hypothesis that early AD would be associated with impaired object location, aMCI patients exhibited impaired spatial feature binding. Compared to both older (n = 24) and younger (n = 53) controls, aMCI patients, recalled object locations with significantly less accuracy (p < .001), with a trend toward an impaired identification of the object's correct context (p = .05). Importantly, these findings were not explained by deficits in object recognition (p = .6). These deficits differentiated aMCI from controls with greater accuracy (AUC = 0.89) than the standard neuropsychological tests. Within the aMCI group, 16 had CSF biomarkers indicative of their likely AD status (MCI+ n = 9 vs. MCI− n = 7). MCI+ showed lower accuracy in the object‐context association than MCI− (p = .03) suggesting a selective deficit in object‐context binding postulated to be associated with anterior‐temporal areas. MRI volumetric analysis across healthy older participants and aMCI revealed that test performance positively correlates with lateral entorhinal cortex volumes (p < .05) and hippocampus volumes (p < .01), consistent with their hypothesized role in binding contextual and spatial information with object identity. Our results indicate that tests relying on the anterolateral object processing stream, and in particular requiring successful binding of an object with spatial information, may aid detection of pre‐dementia AD due to the underlying early spread of tau pathology.
StrainPanDA: Linked reconstruction of strain composition and gene content profiles via pangenome‐based decomposition of metagenomic data
Authors: Hu Han , Tan Yuxiang , Li Chenhao , Chen Junyu , Kou Yan , Xu Zhenjiang Zech , Liu Yang‐Yu , Tan Yan , Dai Lei
Published: August 2022

Microbial strains of variable functional capacities coexist in microbiomes. Current bioinformatics methods of strain analysis cannot provide the direct linkage between strain composition and their gene contents from metagenomic data. Here we present Strain‐level Pangenome Decomposition Analysis (StrainPanDA), a novel method that uses the pangenome coverage profile of multiple metagenomic samples to simultaneously reconstruct the composition and gene content variation of coexisting strains in microbial communities. We systematically validate the accuracy and robustness of StrainPanDA using synthetic data sets. To demonstrate the power of gene‐centric strain profiling, we then apply StrainPanDA to analyze the gut microbiome samples of infants, as well as patients treated with fecal microbiota transplantation. We show that the linked reconstruction of strain composition and gene content profiles is critical for understanding the relationship between microbial adaptation and strain‐specific functions (e.g., nutrient utilization and pathogenicity). Finally, StrainPanDA has minimal requirements for computing resources and can be scaled to process multiple species in a community in parallel. In short, StrainPanDA can be applied to metagenomic data sets to detect the association between molecular functions and microbial/host phenotypes to formulate testable hypotheses and gain novel biological insights at the strain or subspecies level.
Complex heatmap visualization
Authors: Gu Zuguang
Published: August 2022

Heatmap is a widely used statistical visualization method on matrix‐like data to reveal similar patterns shared by subsets of rows and columns. In the R programming language, there are many packages that make heatmaps. Among them, the ComplexHeatmap package provides the richest toolset for constructing highly customizable heatmaps. ComplexHeatmap can easily establish connections between multisource information by automatically concatenating and adjusting a list of heatmaps as well as complex annotations, which makes it widely applied in data analysis in many fields, especially in bioinformatics, to find hidden structures in the data. In this article, we give a comprehensive introduction to the current state of ComplexHeatmap, including its modular design, its rich functionalities, and its broad applications.
Agricultural innovation and adaptation to climate change: Insights from US maize
Authors: Lee Seungki , Ji Yongjie , Moschini GianCarlo
Published: August 2022

Climate change is a major threat to the global food supply, and adaptation by technological progress is essential. We show that the scope of the required innovation is challenging. Our benchmark is the estimated yield gain in US maize due to genetically engineered (GE) varieties. Extrapolated future yields, given climate projections, indicate significant negative impacts of climate change. Yield shortfalls, by the end of the century, range from 2.8 to 6.3 times the total yield gains from first‐generation GE varieties. Ambitious and targeted R&D efforts, and innovation breakthroughs, may be required to offset the negative impact of climate change.
Phytochemicals of mustard (Brassica Campestris) leaves tuned the nickel‐cobalt bimetallic oxide properties for enzyme‐free sensing of glucose
Authors: Solangi Abdul Ghaffar , Pirzada Tajness , Shah Aqeel Ahmed , Halepoto Imran Ali , Chang Abdul Sattar , Solangi Zulifqar Ali , Solangi Muhammad Yameen , Aftab Umair , Tonezzer Matteo , Tahira Aneela , Nafady Ayman , Medany Shymaa S. , Ibupoto Zafar Hussain
Published: August 2022

The fabrication of enzyme‐free glucose sensors is highly demanded for the biological, clinical, and food applications. In this study, we have developed a green method for tuning the surface properties of nickel‐cobalt bimetallic oxide (NiCo2O4) by adding mustard (Brassica Campestris) leaves extract during hydrothermal growth. The mustard (Brassica Campestris) leaves extract is rich with a variety of phytochemicals, which can easily tune the surface properties of NiCo2O4 nanostructures, thereby paving the way toward the development of sensitive and selective non‐enzymatic glucose sensors. The effect of various amounts of mustard (Brassica Campestris) leaves extract (0–20 ml) was also studied to find out the optimal conditions for growing surface‐modified NiCo2O4 nanostructures. The morphology and crystalline structure of the nanomaterials were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) techniques, respectively. The presence of an increasing quantity of mustard (Brassica Campestris) extract keeps the crystalline structure and the morphology of the NiCo2O4 nanostructures unaltered but changes their dimensions. All nanostructures show the same cubic spinel structure of NiCo2O4 and a morphology of spherical urchins composed of nanorods, but the diameter of the urchins decreases from ~10 μm to several nanometers, thus increasing the surface area of the nanomaterial. Furthermore, NiCo2O4 nanostructures were deposited onto glassy carbon electrodes (CGE), showing excellent catalytic properties toward the enzyme‐free detection of glucose using cyclic voltammetry. Importantly, the intensity of the oxidation current peak was linear over a wide range of glucose concentrations (from 0.1 to 10 mM) and the limit of detection (LOD) was estimated around 0.001 mM. Additionally, NiCo2O4 nanostructures grown in the presence of 20 ml of mustard leaf extract demonstrated good repeatability and excellent selectivity for glucose, without interference by other components such as urea, lactic acid, uric acid, ascorbic acid, as well as potassium and sodium ions. The combined results attest that mustard leaf extract has high potential as a green approach to improve the electrochemical properties of nanostructured materials, and could be useful for a wide range of materials for future electrochemical applications.
Comparative embryogenesis in ungulate domesticated species
Authors: Schlindwein Xenia , Werneburg Ingmar
Published: August 2022

We compared embryogenesis of five species of domesticated even‐toed and one odd‐toed ungulate and used a phylogenetic framework to contextualize such comparison. Organ systems that occur relatively earlier in embryogenesis generally have more time to develop and therefore are found to be more mature at birth when compared to structures that appear later in development. We hypothesized that the less mature the animals' organs are at birth, the more they are susceptible to artificial selection. The horse had the most mature organs at birth, followed by cattle, reindeer, sheep/goat, and pig. This pattern of maturity could be observed almost during the entire development. Heterochronic shifts among species were observed only after fur starts to develop. Changes in the fur coloration are one of the first observable signs of domestication and the heterochrony of this trait may be related to the effects on neural crest‐derived pigment cells by artificial selection. The six ungulate species also differ in the relative duration of their weaning period and the potential extent of its artificial shortening. We put all these traits in the context of their inherited evolutionary characteristics and artificial domestication process. Related to their altriciality, carnivoran domesticates, which also belong to Scrotifera, are less mature at birth than all domesticated ungulates. Although we detected clear character correlations to life history traits, it is impossible based on the present data, to trace specific exaptations to the domestication process. We hypothesize a deep time developmental penetration of adult characters into embryogenesis.
Newborn screening for Pompe disease: Parental experiences and follow‐up care for a late‐onset diagnosis
Authors: Prakash Supraja , Penn Jeremy D. , Jackson Kelly E. , Dean Lori Williamson
Published: August 2022

Newborn screening (NBS) for Pompe disease (PD) was added to the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) in the United States in 2015 because there was compelling evidence of health benefits for early diagnosis of Infantile‐onset Pompe disease (IOPD). However, one limitation of NBS for PD is its inability to distinguish IOPD and late onset forms of Pompe disease (LOPD). Management of LOPD is challenging because of uncertainty around progression of LOPD and determining the appropriate time for treatment initiation. The aims of this study were to understand the impact of LOPD identified through NBS, by exploring the differences in attitudes, emotions and opinions among parents and identify their needs for follow‐up care. Study participants were recruited from states that included PD on their NBS panel. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with parents of nine children who were diagnosed with LOPD after an abnormal NBS result. Predominantly, parents reported a lack of adequate information, guidance, and psychosocial support from the very beginning and through the course of their diagnosis. This caused uncertainty, anxiety, frustration, and fear of the unknown. Parents live in a ‘worry or not to worry’ phase, balancing between coping methods to avoid over medicalization of their child, but also preparing concrete follow‐up plans to be on the lookout for any signs of PD‐related symptoms. Understanding parents' experiences allows genetic counselors and NBS programs to proactively design care plan for parents during this difficult period.
Roles of the nucleus in leukocyte migration
Authors: Li Yutao , Chen Mengqi , Chang Wakam
Published: August 2022

Leukocytes patrol our bodies in search of pathogens and migrate to sites of injury in response to various stimuli. Rapid and directed leukocyte motility is therefore crucial to our immunity. The nucleus is the largest and stiffest cellular organelle and a mechanical obstacle for migration through constrictions. However, the nucleus is also essential for 3D cell migration. Here, we review the roles of the nucleus in leukocyte migration, focusing on how cells deform their nuclei to aid cell motility and the contributions of the nucleus to cell migration. We discuss the regulation of the nuclear biomechanics by the nuclear lamina and how it, together with the cytoskeleton, modulates the shapes of leukocyte nuclei. We then summarize the functions of nesprins and SUN proteins in leukocytes and discuss how forces are exerted on the nucleus. Finally, we examine the mechanical roles of the nucleus in cell migration, including its roles in regulating the direction of migration and path selection.
Paleobiological inferences on middle Eocene native ungulates from South America: Functional morphological analysis of Notostylops and Notopithecus
Authors: Vera Bárbara , Medina‐González Paul , Moreno Karen
Published: August 2022

Eocene early‐diverging representatives of South American extinct notungulates are traditionally considered to have been “generalists” and “non‐specialized” in terms of the appendicular skeleton and locomotor behavior, as is the case with the notostylopid Notostylops, a middle Eocene iconic taxon from Patagonia (Argentina). However, they are mainly known from dental remains, and associated cranial and postcranial elements are scarce. The discovery of a nearly complete specimen attributed to N. murinus allows us to: (1) increase the knowledge of the anatomy of its appendicular skeleton; (2) identify isolated bones from several collections and suggest different taxonomic interpretations for published specimens; (3) perform a biomechanical and functional study using functional morphological analysis to infer its paleoecological attributes (e.g. posture, locomotor habit, estimated speed, and body mass); and (4) establish morphofunctional comparisons, based on possible functional ranges, with other extinct early‐diverging notoungulates from the middle Eocene, such as the Notopithecid Notopithecus. Our evidence suggests that Notostylops was a medium‐sized mammal (8.5−20 kg), which could achieve a dynamic digitigrade posture that allowed a scansorial secondary locomotor habit and a speed of up to 50 km/h. However, Notopithecus was a small‐sized mammal (0.6−1.4 kg) with a plantigrade posture both in a static and dynamic context, terrestrial habits, and a speed of up to 35 km/h. Therefore, we conclude that these Eocene notoungulates show different locomotor capabilities, which can be associated with early niche diversifications, clearly contrasting with the “all‐generalists” paradigmatic view.
Combination therapy with remdesivir and immunomodulators improves respiratory status in COVID‐19: A retrospective study
Authors: Kojima Yuichi , Nakakubo Sho , Kamada Keisuke , Yamashita Yu , Takei Nozomu , Nakamura Junichi , Matsumoto Munehiro , Horii Hiroshi , Sato Kazuki , Shima Hideki , Suzuki Masaru , Konno Satoshi
Published: August 2022

Immunomodulators (tocilizumab/baricitinib) improve outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patients, but the synergistic effect of remdesivir is unknown. The effect of combination therapy with remdesivir, immunomodulators, and standard treatment in COVID‐19 patients was investigated. This retrospective, single‐center study included COVID‐19 patients who were treated with tocilizumab or baricitinib. The severity of respiratory status in the two groups on Days 14 and 28 and the duration to respiratory recovery in both groups were compared, and the effect of remdesivir use on respiratory status was examined in a multivariate analysis. Ninety‐eight patients received tocilizumab or baricitinib; among them, 72 used remdesivir (remdesivir group) and 26 did not (control group). The remdesivir group achieved faster respiratory recovery than the control group (median 11 vs. 21 days, p = 0.033), faster weaning from supplemental oxygen (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14–5.66, p = 0.021). Age, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, and time from onset to oxygen administration were independent prognostic factors. The remdesivir group achieved better severity level at Days 14 and 28 (p = 0.033 and 0.003, respectively) and greater improvement from baseline severity (p = 0.047 and 0.018, respectively). Remdesivir combination therapy did not prolong survival (HR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.04–2.16, p = 0.23). Among severely ill COVID‐19 patients who received immunomodulator, remdesivir contributed to a shorter respiratory recovery time and better respiratory status at Days 14 and 28. Concomitant remdesivir with immunomodulators and standard treatment may provide additional benefit in improving respiratory status of COVID‐19 patients.
Neoadjuvant rectal score is prognostic for survival: A population‐based propensity‐matched analysis
Authors: Naffouje Samer A. , Manguso Nicholas , Imanirad Iman , Sahin Ibrahim H. , Xie Hao , Hoffe Sarah , Frakes Jessica , Sanchez Julian , Dessureault Sophie , Felder Seth
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Neoadjuvant rectal (NAR) score may serve as a surrogate short‐term endpoint for overall survival (OS) in clinical trials. This study aims to test the NAR score using a large, national cancer registry.

Methods

National Cancer Database patients with clinical stage II/III rectal adenocarcinoma (RAC) treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) followed by surgery were selected and divided into low‐, intermediate‐, and high‐NAR subgroups. OS outcomes were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier and logistic regression models.

Results

A total of 12 452 patients were selected, of which 5071 (40.7%) were in clinical stage II and 7381 (59.3%) were in clinical stage III; 15.2% had pathologic complete response. The mean NAR score was 10.01 ± 10.61. Six thousand nine hundred and forty‐one (55.7%) did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) and were propensity‐matched across NAR subgroups (966 in each group). A significant difference in 5‐year OS between low‐, intermediate‐, and high‐NAR groups was observed (85% vs. 76% vs. 68%; p < 0.001). Five thousand five hundred and eleven (44.3%) received AC and 1045 triplets were propensity‐matched per NAR groups. A significant difference was again observed for 5‐year OS (93% vs. 88% vs. 75%; p < 0.001). Logistic regression confirmed NAR strata as a significant predictor of 5‐year OS.

Conclusion

NAR score, as a neoadjuvant response measure, is a strong predictor of 5‐year OS, regardless of AC receipt in a heterogenous population of locally advanced RAC patients.
Spatially optimized cropland distribution promotes sustainable farming and vegetation restoration in mountainous regions
Authors: Zong Renjie , Zeng Yi , Fang Nufang , Shi Zhihua
Published: August 2022

China's Grain‐for‐Green Program (GFGP) motivates conversion from steep slope cropland to forest or grassland to reverse serious land degradation. However, impoverished farmers potentially persist with inefficient slope farming for survival, thereby threatening the sustainable GFGP efforts. Consequently, a strategy for balancing farming and vegetation restoration from a spatial optimization perspective is necessary. Here, we selected two catchments with high and low agricultural intensity in the loess hilly and gully regions for a case study. Spatial analysis and binary logistic regression models were used to clarify the effects of topography, accessibility, and location factors on cropland distribution and explore spatially optimized cropland distribution. The results show that steep slope cropland is still widespread, of which cropland with slopes >15° accounts for 46.7% and 34.7% in the two catchments, respectively. Residences and roads significantly impact steep slope cropland distribution, and around 80% of cropland with slopes >15° is distributed within 200 m from residences or 100 m from roads. In cropland redistribution scenarios, cropland with slopes >25° and >15° can be redistributed to gentler slopes while maintaining cropland areas in catchments with high and low agricultural intensity. Correspondingly, 38.8% and 81.2%, respectively, of simulated cropland on gentle slopes needs optimized attributes such as accessibility in order to be priorities of farmers. Our research provides new insights into GFGP strategies for steep slope cropland restoration in catchments with different agricultural intensities, thereby advancing sustainable farming and vegetation restoration in China's mountainous regions.
Impaired spontaneous secretion as a potential factor in the development of sialolithiasis in the submandibular gland: A preliminary sialoscintigraphic study
Authors: Chen Yen‐Chun , Dang Luong Huu , Chang Wei‐Wen , Su Chin‐Hui , Hung Shih‐Han
Published: August 2022

Objectives

The development of sialolithiasis is commonly related to local factors, such as the retrograde migration of foods, bacteria, or foreign bodies from the oral cavity. The association of sialolithiasis and saliva stasis resulting from decreased spontaneous secretion remains largely unexplored. The current study investigated the potential role of impaired spontaneous secretion in association with the formation of submandibular gland calculi.

Study Design

A retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Between September 2016 and December 2017, 11 patients with unilateral submandibular gland sialolithiasis confirmed with sialendoscopy were assigned to the experimental group. Another 35 patients clinically diagnosed with parotid obstructive sialadenitis were assigned as the control group. The slope changes of the isotope count curve of the unaffected submandibular gland in the experimental group and the bilateral submandibular glands in the control group were calculated and compared to estimate the spontaneous secretion differences. The degree of spontaneous secretion was defined as the slope changes in the steady ascending stage of the scintigraphic exam.

Results

The slope decline (degree of spontaneous secretion) on the unaffected side in patients with single‐gland submandibular obstructive sialadenitis was significantly lower than that in the control individuals (p = .002). In contrast, the between‐group comparison in the unaffected parotid glands revealed no difference in the slope decline.

Conclusion

The spontaneous secretion of the submandibular gland in patients with submandibular sialolithiasis was decreased compared to that in patients without submandibular sialolithiasis. This phenomenon might be associated with the development of sialolithiasis.

Level of Evidence

3.
FDA MAUDE database reported adverse events on noninvasive body contouring, cellulite treatment, and muscle stimulation from 2015 to 2021
Authors: Lim Young , Wulkan Adam , Avram Mathew
Published: August 2022

Objective

Noninvasive cosmetic procedures have continued to gain popularity, owing to their short, in‐office treatments combined with little to no downtime. These procedures are also highly accessible, even offered at medical spas by nonphysician operators. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic also saw heightened interest in all cosmetic procedures, presumably as social distancing and stay‐at‐home orders allotted time and space for postop recovery. As the market for these procedures expand, a thorough understanding of potential adverse events is critical for providers to better counsel their patients on risks and expectations when obtaining informed consent.

Materials and Methods

We employed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA's) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfmaude/search.cfm), which compiles medical device reports (MDRs) for suspected injuries from device use or malfunction, submitted by manufactures and operators. We focused our query on three main categories: noninvasive body contouring, cellulite treatments, and muscle stimulation therapies that utilize electromagnetic energy. The query was performed in February 2022 using a comprehensive list of product names and manufacturers.

Results

The initial search yielded 827 MDRs, which were individually reviewed for duplicate reports or insufficient data. Ultimately, 723 MDRs were analyzed (660 for noninvasive body contouring, 55 for cellulite treatment, and 8 for muscle stimulation). Paradoxical hyperplasia accounted for the majority of MDRs for noninvasive body contouring, while burns and scars were most common for muscle stimulation and cellulite treatments, respectively. Of the 7‐year span we surveyed, 2021 accounted for 515 of the 723 total assessed MDRs (71.2%), the majority of which were from cryolipolysis procedures.

Conclusion

The MAUDE database remains an essential tool to monitor potential adverse events of medical devices, including those utilized for noninvasive, cosmetic procedures. Insight from the MAUDE database can be clinically translated when discussing treatment options with patients, helping to optimize patient safety and satisfaction.
Evaluation of the Fusion Quality of Bead Foams Made from Polybutylene Terephthalate (E‐PBT) Depending on the Processing Temperature
Authors: Kuhnigk Justus , Krebs Niko , Standau Tobias , Dippold Marcel , Ruckdäschel Holger
Published: August 2022

Increasing requirements are leading to new developments in bead foam materials. Engineering thermoplastics such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) outperform standard bead foams in thermal stability. In order to obtain molded parts, beads are fused together using steam chest molding. Classical theories for the fusion mechanism, explaining the molding of amorphous EPS (expandable polystyrene) or semi‐crystalline EPP (expanded polypropylene), cannot be applied to E‐PBT (expanded polybutylene terephthalate). In previous studies, sufficient time for polymer interdiffusion during molding is identified as crucial and requires adjusted crystallization kinetics. This study consequently examines to which extent the crystalline properties and the bead fusion behavior of E‐PBT can be influenced by the bead foaming process. By varying the underwater granulation (UWG) water temperature, different cooling rates of the expanding melt are generated. The foamed beads show different cell morphologies, thermal and dynamic mechanical properties depending on the UWG water temperature. Those beads that show a pronounced shrinkage behavior in the thermomechanical analysis, caused by an increased open cell content and a pronounced cold‐crystallization, exhibit a reduced bead fusion quality. The bead fusion quality is examined by the fracture surface. The shrinkage phenomenon causes a reduced bead to bead contact and partially separation between the beads.
Chemical Multiverse: An Expanded View of Chemical Space
Authors: Medina‐Franco José L. , Chávez‐Hernández Ana L. , López‐López Edgar , Saldívar‐González Fernanda I.
Published: August 2022

Technological advances and practical applications of the chemical space concept in drug discovery, natural product research, and other research areas have attracted the scientific community‘s attention. The large‐ and ultra‐large chemical spaces are associated with the significant increase in the number of compounds that can potentially be made and exist and the increasing number of experimental and calculated descriptors, that are emerging that encode the molecular structure and/or property aspects of the molecules. Due to the importance and continued evolution of compound libraries, herein, we discuss definitions proposed in the literature for chemical space and emphasize the convenience, discussed in the literature to use complementary descriptors to obtain a comprehensive view of the chemical space of compound data sets. In this regard, we introduce the term chemical multiverse to refer to the comprehensive analysis of compound data sets through several chemical spaces, each defined by a different set of chemical representations. The chemical multiverse is contrasted with a related idea: consensus chemical space.
Development and verification of radiomics framework for computed tomography image segmentation
Authors: Gu Jiabing , Li Baosheng , Shu Huazhong , Zhu Jian , Qiu Qingtao , Bai Tong
Published: August 2022

Background

Radiomics has been considered an imaging marker for capturing quantitative image information (QII). The introduction of radiomics to image segmentation is desirable but challenging.

Purpose

This study aims to develop and validate a radiomics‐based framework for image segmentation (RFIS).

Methods

RFIS is designed using features extracted from volume (svfeatures) created by sliding window (swvolume). The 53 svfeatures are extracted from 11 phantom series. Outliers in the svfeature datasets are detected by isolation forest (iForest) and specified as the mean value. The percentage coefficient of variation (%COV) is calculated to evaluate the reproducibility of svfeatures. RFIS is constructed and applied to the gross target volume (GTV) segmentation from the peritumoral region (GTV with a 10 mm margin) to assess its feasibility. The 127 lung cancer images are enrolled. The test–retest method, correlation matrix, and Mann–Whitney U test (p < 0.05) are used to select non‐redundant svfeatures of statistical significance from the reproducible svfeatures. The synthetic minority over‐sampling technique is utilized to balance the minority group in the training sets. The support vector machine is employed for RFIS construction, which is tuned in the training set using 10‐fold stratified cross‐validation and then evaluated in the test sets. The swvolumes with the consistent classification results are grouped and merged. Mode filtering is performed to remove very small subvolumes and create relatively large regions of completely uniform character. In addition, RFIS performance is evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC).

Results

30249 phantom and 145008 patient image swvolumes were analyzed. Forty‐nine (92.45% of 53) svfeatures represented excellent reproducibility(%COV<15). Forty‐five features (91.84% of 49) included five categories that passed test‐retest analysis. Thirteen svfeatures (28.89% of 45) svfeatures were selected for RFIS construction. RFIS showed an average (95% confidence interval) sensitivity of 0.848 (95% CI:0.844–0.883), a specificity of 0.821 (95% CI: 0.818–0.825), an accuracy of 83.48% (95% CI: 83.27%–83.70%), and an AUC of 0.906 (95% CI: 0.904–0.908) with cross‐validation. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and AUC were equal to 0.762 (95% CI: 0.754–0.770), 0.840 (95% CI: 0.837–0.844), 82.29% (95% CI: 81.90%–82.60%), and 0.877 (95% CI: 0.873–0.881) in the test set, respectively. GTV was segmented by grouping and merging swvolume with identical classification results. The mean DSC after mode filtering was 0.707 ± 0.093 in the training sets and 0.688 ± 0.072 in the test sets.

Conclusion

Reproducible svfeatures can capture the differences in QII among swvolumes. RFIS can be applied to swvolume classification, which achieves image segmentation by grouping and merging the swvolume with similar QII.
Improving accuracy of myocardial T1 estimation in MyoMapNet
Authors: Guo Rui , Chen Zhensen , Amyar Amine , El‐Rewaidy Hossam , Assana Salah , Rodriguez Jennifer , Pierce Patrick , Goddu Beth , Nezafat Reza
Published: August 2022

Purpose

To improve the accuracy and robustness of T1 estimation by MyoMapNet, a deep learning–based approach using 4 inversion‐recovery T1‐weighted images for cardiac T1 mapping.

Methods

MyoMapNet is a fully connected neural network for T1 estimation of an accelerated cardiac T1 mapping sequence, which collects 4 T1‐weighted images by a single Look‐Locker inversion‐recovery experiment (LL4). MyoMapNet was originally trained using in vivo data from the modified Look‐Locker inversion recovery sequence, which resulted in significant bias and sensitivity to various confounders. This study sought to train MyoMapNet using signals generated from numerical simulations and phantom MR data under multiple simulated confounders. The trained model was then evaluated by phantom data scanned using new phantom vials that differed from those used for training. The performance of the new model was compared with modified Look‐Locker inversion recovery sequence and saturation‐recovery single‐shot acquisition for measuring native and postcontrast T1 in 25 subjects.

Results

In the phantom study, T1 values measured by LL4 with MyoMapNet were highly correlated with reference values from the spin‐echo sequence. Furthermore, the estimated T1 had excellent robustness to changes in flip angle and off‐resonance. Native and postcontrast myocardium T1 at 3 Tesla measured by saturation‐recovery single‐shot acquisition, modified Look‐Locker inversion recovery sequence, and MyoMapNet were 1483 ± 46.6 ms and 791 ± 45.8 ms, 1169 ± 49.0 ms and 612 ± 36.0 ms, and 1443 ± 57.5 ms and 700 ± 57.5 ms, respectively. The corresponding extracellular volumes were 22.90% ± 3.20%, 28.88% ± 3.48%, and 30.65% ± 3.60%, respectively.

Conclusion

Training MyoMapNet with numerical simulations and phantom data will improve the estimation of myocardial T1 values and increase its robustness to confounders while also reducing the overall T1 mapping estimation time to only 4 heartbeats.