bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reliability and acceptability of web‐based administration of Spanish ages and stages questionnaires third edition®
Authors: Schonhaut Luisa , Armijo Ivan , Rojas B. Paula , Cabrera Leonardo , Boisier Roberto
Published: May 2023

to analyse the reliability of 6 age intervals of Spanish web‐based Ages and Stages Questionnaires Third Edition (WB‐ASQ‐3) and parents' acceptability, in a clinical practice context, during COVID‐19 pandemic and lockdown in Chile. Cross‐sectional study with a longitudinal component. Internal consistency was analysed by Cronbach's alpha and Pearson product–moment correlation, Pearson's correlations between intervals questionnaires were analysed. Acceptability was determined using a parental satisfaction survey. 1061 children completed 2318 validated questionnaires. Scores were compared with normative sample, except for Gross motor at 8 and 12 months, and Communication at 12, 18 and 24 months, without differences to the previous Chileans sample. In domain analysis, Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.36 to 0.80 and reached 0.74 to 0.81 for the overall test. Strong positive correlation between the domain and overall score was obtained. Correlation between most questionnaires at different ages was positive and significant. Parental surveys show high satisfaction; parents were thankful for being able to monitor children's development. WB‐ASQ‐3 is a reliable and feasible screening system, particularly when the test is taken as a whole, rather than by domains. It is remarkably high acceptability among parents, especially in complex times such as the lockdown and the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Large‐scaled detection of COVID‐19 from X‐ray using transfer learning
Authors: Ibrahim Abdullahi Umar , Kibarer Ayse Gunnay , Al‐Turjman Fadi , Kaba Serife
Published: May 2023

The pandemic cause as a result of the outbreak of COVID‐19 disease continues to burden the healthcare system despite several interventions using vaccines and other preventive measures. Healthcare settings adopted the use of reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) which is hampered by so many challenges such as miss‐diagnosis, false positive results, high cost, especially for those in remote and rural areas, the need for trained medical pathologists, the use of chemicals, and a lack of point‐of‐care detection. The use of radiographic images as an alternative or confirmatory approach has offered medical experts another option, but has some limitations, such as misinterpretation, and can be tedious for analyzing thousands of cases. In order to bridge this gap, we applied two AlexNet models for the classification of different types of pneumonia, including COVID‐19 using X‐ray. Considering the fact that the majority of articles in the literature reported binary classifications of radiographic images. This article utilizes X‐ray images for classification of COVID‐19, non‐COVID‐19 viral pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia, and normal cases using the AlexNet‐SoftMax classifier and the AlexNet‐SVM classifier. The research also evaluates performance based on 5k‐fold and 10k fold cross validation (CV). The results achieved in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity based on 70:30 partition, 5k, and 10k CV have shown that the models outperformed the majority of the state‐of‐the‐art deep learning architectures.
Ibuprofen in the Management of Viral Infections: The Lesson of COVID‐19 for Its Use in a Clinical Setting
Authors: Marcianò Gianmarco , Muraca Lucia , Rania Vincenzo , Gallelli Luca
Published: May 2023

Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used for the management of fever, pain, and inflammation. However, they have always been considered to have a double‐faced role, according to their capacity to manage inflammation but also their possible reduction of immune system response and diagnosis delay. This last point could favor a dramatic increase of viral infection diffusion, possibly leading to a more severe outcome. The advent of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 excluded the use of NSAIDs, particularly ibuprofen, and then indicated this drug as the better NSAID to manage infected outpatients and prevent complications. Several authors described the role of NSAIDs and ibuprofen in preventing cytokine storm and modulating the immune system. However, the development of both adverse drug reactions (i.e., gastrointestinal, renal, hepatic, and cardiovascular) and drug interaction recalled the necessity of prescribing the better NSAID for each patient. In this narrative review, we describe the role of NSAIDs, particularly of ibuprofen, in the management of viral symptoms, suggesting that the NSAID may be chosen considering the characteristics of the patient, the comorbidity, and the polytherapy.
Multiomics analysis of human peripheral blood reveals marked molecular profiling changes caused by one night of sleep deprivation
Authors: Chen Chongyang , Wang Jing , Yang Chao , Yu Haitao , Zhang Bingge , Yang Xiao , Xiong Bocheng , Xie Yongmei , Li Shupeng , Zhang Zaijun , Zhu Feiqi , Liu Jianjun , Liu Gong‐Ping , Yang Xifei
Published: May 2023

Sleep insufficiency is associated with various disorders; the molecular basis is unknown until now. Here, 14 males and 18 females were subjected to short‐term (24 h) sleep deprivation, and donated fasting blood samples prior to (day 1) and following (days 2 and 3) short‐term sleep deprivation. We used multiple omics techniques to examine changes in volunteers’ blood samples that were subjected to integrated, biochemical, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses. Sleep deprivation caused marked molecular changes (46.4% transcript genes, 59.3% proteins, and 55.6% metabolites) that incompletely reversed by day 3. The immune system in particular neutrophil‐mediated processes associated with plasma superoxidase dismutase‐1 and S100A8 gene expression was markedly affected. Sleep deprivation decreased melatonin levels and increased immune cells, inflammatory factors and c‐reactive protein. By disease enrichment analysis, sleep deprivation induced signaling pathways for schizophrenia and neurodegenerative diseases enriched. In sum, this is the first multiomics approach to show that sleep deprivation causes prominent immune changes in humans, and clearly identified potential immune biomarkers associated with sleep deprivation. This study indicated that the blood profile following sleep disruption, such as may occur among shift workers, may induce immune and central nervous system dysfunction.
Rapid 3D T1 mapping using deep learning‐assisted Look‐Locker inversion recovery MRI
Authors: Pei Haoyang , Xia Ding , Xu Xiang , Yang Yang , Wang Yao , Liu Fang , Feng Li
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Conventional 3D Look‐Locker inversion recovery (LLIR) T1 mapping requires multi‐repetition data acquisition to reconstruct images at different inversion times for T1 fitting. To ensure B1 robustness, sufficient time of delay (TD) is needed between repetitions, which prolongs scan time. This work proposes a novel deep learning‐assisted LLIR MRI approach for rapid 3D T1 mapping without TD.

Theory and Methods

The proposed approach is based on the fact that , the effective T1 in LLIR imaging, is independent of TD and can be estimated from both LLIR imaging with and without TD, while accurate conversion of to T1 requires TD. Therefore, deep learning can be used to learn the conversion of to T1, which eliminates the need for TD. This idea was implemented for inversion‐recovery‐prepared Golden‐angel RAdial Sparse Parallel T1 mapping (GraspT1). 39 GraspT1 datasets with a TD of 6 s (GraspT1‐TD6) were used for training, which also incorporates additional anatomical images. The trained network was applied for T1 estimation in 14 GraspT1 datasets without TD (GraspT1‐TD0). The robustness of the trained network was also tested.

Results

Deep learning‐based T1 estimation from GraspT1‐TD0 is accurate compared to the reference. Incorporation of additional anatomical images improves the accuracy of T1 estimation. The technique is also robust against slight variation in spatial resolution, imaging orientation and scanner platform.

Conclusion

Our approach eliminates the need for TD in 3D LLIR imaging without affecting the T1 estimation accuracy. It represents a novel use of deep learning towards more efficient and robust 3D LLIR T1 mapping.
Optimal flip angles for in vivo liver 3DT1 mapping and B1+ mapping at 3T
Authors: Belsley Gabriela , Tyler Damian J. , Robson Matthew D. , Tunnicliffe Elizabeth M.
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The spoiled gradient recalled echo (SPGR) sequence with variable flip angles (FAs) enables whole liver mapping at high spatial resolutions but is strongly affected by inhomogeneities. The aim of this work was to study how the precision of acquired maps is affected by the and ranges observed in the liver at 3T, as well as how noise propagates from the acquired signals into the resulting map.

Theory

The variance was estimated through the Fisher information matrix with a total noise variance including, for the first time, the map noise as well as contributions from the SPGR noise.

Methods

Simulations were used to find the optimal FAs for both the mapping and mapping. The simulations results were validated in 10 volunteers.

Results

Four optimized SPGR FAs of 2°, 2°, 15°, and 15° (TR = 4.1 ms) and map FAs of 65° and 130° achieved a coefficient of variation of 6.2 ± 1.7% across 10 volunteers and validated our theoretical model. Four optimal FAs outperformed five uniformly spaced FAs, saving the patient one breath‐hold. For the liver and parameter space at 3T, a higher return in precision was obtained by investing FAs in the SPGR acquisition rather than in the map.

Conclusion

A novel framework was developed and validated to calculate the SPGR variance. This framework efficiently identifies optimal FA values and determines the total number of SPGR and measurements needed to achieve a desired precision.
Identification of new resonances in downfield 1H MRS of human calf muscle in vivo: Potentially metabolite precursors for skeletal muscle NAD+
Authors: Nanga Ravi Prakash Reddy , Elliott Mark A. , Swain Anshuman , Wilson Neil E. , Swago Sophia , Witschey Walter R. , Reddy Ravinder
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize newly discovered resonances appearing in the downfield proton MR spectrum (DF 1H MRS) of the human calf muscle in vivo at 7T.

Methods

Downfield 1H MRS was performed on the calf muscle of five healthy volunteers at 7T. A spectrally selective 90° E‐BURP RF pulse with an excitation center frequency at 10.3 ppm and an excitation bandwidth of 2 ppm was used for DF 1H MRS acquisition.

Results

In all participants, we observed new resonances at 9.7, 10.1, 10.3, and 10.9 ppm in the DF 1H MRS. Phantom experiments at 37°C strongly suggest the new resonance at 9.7 ppm could be from H2‐proton of the nicotinamide rings in nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) while the resonance at 10.1 ppm could be attributed to the indole –NH proton of L‐tryptophan. We observed that the resonances at 10.1 and 10.9 ppm are significantly suppressed when the water resonance is saturated, indicating that these peaks have either 1H chemical exchange or cross‐relaxation with water. Conversely, the resonances at 9.7 and 10.3 ppm exhibit moderate signal reduction in the presence of water saturation.

Conclusion

We have identified new proton resonances in vivo in human calf muscle occurring at chemical shifts of 9.7, 10.1, 10.3, and 10.9 ppm. These preliminary results are promising for investigating the role of NR/NMN and L‐tryptophan metabolism in understanding the de novo and salvage pathways of NAD+ synthesis in skeletal muscle.
Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging for detection of pathological changes in the central nervous system of a mouse model of multiple sclerosis in vivo
Authors: Althobity Abdullah A. , Khan Nemat , Sandrock Cheyenne J. , Woodruff Trent M. , Cowin Gary J. , Brereton Ian M. , Kurniawan Nyoman D.
Published: May 2023

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease involving demyelination and axonal damage in the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, we investigated pathological changes in the lumbar spinal cord of C57BL/6 mice induced with progressive experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) disease using 9.4‐T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Multiparametric MRI measurements including MR spectroscopy, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and volumetric analyses were applied to detect metabolic changes in the CNS of EAE mice. Compared with healthy mice, EAE mice showed a significant reduction in N‐acetyl aspartate and increases in choline, glycine, taurine and lactate. DTI revealed a significant reduction in fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity and an increase in radial diffusivity in the lumbar spinal cord white matter (WM), while in the grey matter (GM), fractional anisotropy increased. High‐resolution structural imaging also revealed lumbar spinal cord WM hypertrophy and GM atrophy. Importantly, these MRI changes were strongly correlated with EAE disease scoring and pathological changes in the lumbar (L2–L6), particularly WM demyelination lesions and aggregation of immune cells (microglia/macrophages and astrocytes) in this region. This study identified changes in MRI biomarker signatures that can be useful for evaluating the efficacy of novel drugs using EAE models in vivo.
Difficult Airway Response Team (DART) and Airway Emergency Outcomes: A Retrospective Quality Improvement Study
Authors: Kuhar Hannah N. , Bliss Alessandra , Evans Kimberly , Besecker Beth , Spitzer Carleen , Lyaker Michael , Schofield Minka
Published: May 2023

Objective

Difficult airways can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in the event of a delay in securing the airway. To improve the airway metrics at our institution, we implemented a multidisciplinary team of airway providers to respond to difficult and emergent airways, or the Difficult Airway Response Team (DART). The purpose of the present study is to assess the feasibility of a DART program at a tertiary care center.

Study Design

A retrospective study evaluating the outcomes of emergent airway cases using the DART protocol.

Setting

Single tertiary academic care center.

Methods

In August 2019, a DART program was implemented at a tertiary academic medical center. In order to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of this system, data were collected to assess DART outcomes through chart review and surveys following each event, and analyzed in Microsoft Excel.

Results

A total of 161 DART events (average 4.6/month) took place from August 2019 to June 2022. Anesthesiologists secured the airway in 71 events (51%), otolaryngologists in 38 (27%), and pulmonary/critical care in 12 (9%). Seventy‐three activations were not labeled as a difficult airway. Pre‐DART, 19 cases required more than 3 attempts to secure the airway compared to 11 cases after DART. Transoral intubation was the most common intervention. Thirteen cases required surgical intervention.

Conclusion

Implementing a multidisciplinary team‐based approach for managing emergent difficult airways at a tertiary care institution was feasible and resulted in a decreased number of airway attempts in difficult airway patients. Continuous process improvement is essential for the ongoing enhancement of DART systems.
Machine learning approaches for improving integration of advanced sensors on legacy aircraft
Authors: Dennis Zachary , Holzer Thomas
Published: May 2023

Rapid integration of advanced sensors onto legacy military aircraft is critical for maintaining technological advantage in warfighting domains. Integration of these sensors is accomplished through upgrade programs that often fail during integration due to defect discovery and interoperability issues. Existing Department of Defense initiatives related to open architectures have improved sensor integration but have not eliminated the need for custom interface software to account for behavioral disparities across different sensors. The subject research proposes that reinforcement machine learning algorithms can be applied to aircraft sensor interfaces during integration and verifies effectiveness by training and testing Greedy, Q‐Learning, Deep Q‐Learning, Double Deep Q‐Learning, and Instance‐Based Learning algorithms against modeled Global Positioning System (GPS), Optical, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), and Infrared sensor functions. The results are useful to open architecture standards management groups, sensor vendors, and systems and software engineers who are developing strategies and designs to accelerate subsystem integration timelines by reducing failures discovered during integration.
Transcript profiling of hairy vetch (Vicia villosaRoth) identified interesting genes for seed dormancy
Authors: Ali Shahjahan , Kucek Lisa Kissing , Riday Heathcliffe , Krom Nick , Krogman Sarah , Cooper Kimberly , Jacobs Lynne , Mehta Perdeep , Trammell Michael , Bhamidimarri Suresh , Butler Twain , Saha Malay C. , Monteros Maria J.
Published: May 2023

Hairy vetch, a diploid annual legume species, has a robust growth habit, high biomass yield, and winter hardy characteristics. Seed hardness is a major constraint for growing hairy vetch commercially. Hard seeded cultivars are valuable as forages, whereas soft seeded and shatter resistant cultivars have advantages for their use as a cover crop. Transcript analysis of hairy vetch was performed to understand the genetic mechanisms associated with important hairy vetch traits. RNA was extracted from leaves, flowers, immature pods, seed coats, and cotyledons of contrasting soft and hard seeded “AU Merit” plants. A range of 31.22–79.18 Gb RNA sequence data per tissue sample were generated with estimated coverage of 1040–2639×. RNA sequence assembly and mapping of the contigs against theMedicago truncatula(V4.0) genome identified 76,422 gene transcripts. A total of 24,254 transcripts were constitutively expressed in hairy vetch tissues. Key genes, such asKNOX4(a class II KNOTTED‐like homeobox KNOXII gene),qHs1(endo‐1,4‐β‐glucanase),GmHs1‐1(calcineurin‐like metallophosphoesterase), chitinase, shatterproof 1 and 2(SHP1, SHP2), shatter resistant 1–5(SHAT1–5)(NAC transcription factor),PDH1(prephenate dehydrogenase 1), and pectin methylesterases with a potential role in seed hardness and pod shattering, were further explored based on genes involved in seed hardness from other species to query the hairy vetch transcriptome data. Identification of interesting candidate genes in hairy vetch can facilitate the development of improved cultivars with desirable seed characteristics for use as a forage and as a cover crop.
Slope and pig slurry rate may increase the transfer of chemical elements by surface water runoff
Authors: Grando Douglas Luiz , Gatiboni Luciano Colpo , Mumbach Gilmar Luiz , da Silva Walquíria Chaves , Junior Abelino Anacleto de Souza , Pietroski Marizane , Pessotto Patrícia Pretto , Iochims Daniel Alexandre
Published: May 2023

There is a need to evaluate the interference of pig slurry rate and the terrain slope in the chemical elements losses from the soil. This work aimed to quantify water and chemical element losses by surface runoff due to terrain slope and pig slurry rate (PS) in two soils with contrasting textures. Two trials were evaluated in 2018 and 2019 in Cambisol and Nitisol. Rates of 0, 22.5, 45, and 90 m3 ha−1 yr−1 of PS were applied superficially in sites with slopes ranging from 10% to 35%. Perennial forage grass Tifton 85 (Cynodon dactylon) was grown as summer crop and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) was sown in the cold seasons in a field environment. Were determined the runoff, the volume of water, and chemical elements (Al, Ca, P, Mg, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Fe, Pb, and Zn) lost by the surface runoff after natural rainfall. Increasing land slope elevated water losses substantially, on average 23.4 times in Cambisol and 10.8 times in Nitisol. This increase resulted in average increases of 27.6 and 12.4 times in the losses of the chemical elements analyzed for Cambisol and Nitisol, respectively. There was a reduction in water losses by surface runoff due to increased PS rates applied in both sites. The increased PS rate affected the losses of Cr and Cu in Cambisol and P, Mg, Cd, and Cu in Nitisol. The clayey soil potentiated the water and chemical elements losses by surface runoff in relation to the soil with lower clay content. Regardless of the soil, water and chemical element losses are maximized at higher slopes.
Same-day discharge (SDD) vs standard enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols for major colorectal surgery: a systematic review
Authors: Zheng V. , Wee I. J. Y. , Abdullah H. R. , Tan S. , Tan E. K. W. , Seow-En I.
Published: May 2023

Background

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs are well-established, resulting in improved outcomes and shorter length of hospital stay (LOS). Same-day discharge (SDD), or “hyper-ERAS”, is a natural progression of ERAS. This systematic review aims to compare the safety and efficacy of SDD against conventional ERAS in colorectal surgery.

Methods

The protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (394793). A systematic search was performed in major databases to identify relevant articles, and a narrative systematic review was performed. Primary outcomes were readmission rates and length of hospital stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes were operative time and blood loss, postoperative pain, morbidity, nausea or vomiting, and patient satisfaction. Risks of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool.

Results

Thirteen studies were included, with five single-arm and eight comparative studies, of which one was a randomised controlled trial. This comprised a total of 38,854 patients (SDD: 1622; ERAS: 37,232). Of the 1622 patients on the SDD pathway, 1590 patients (98%) were successfully discharged within 24 h of surgery. While most studies had an overall low risk of bias, there was considerable variability in inclusion criteria, types of surgery or anaesthesia, and discharge criteria. SDD resulted in a significantly reduced postoperative LOS, without increasing risk of 30-day readmission. Intraoperative blood loss and postoperative morbidity rates were comparable between both groups. Operative duration was shorter in the SDD group. Patient-reported satisfaction was high in the SDD cohort.

Conclusion

SDD protocols appear to be safe and feasible in selected patients undergoing major colorectal operations. Randomised controlled trials are necessary to further substantiate these findings.
Student teachers’ perceptions of flipped classroom in EFL teacher education
Authors: Han Han , Røkenes Fredrik Mørk , Krumsvik Rune Johan
Published: May 2023

This paper aims to provide evidence on student teachers’ perceptions of Flipped Classroom (FC) to help teacher educators (TEs) to make informed decisions about implementing FC and support student teachers to reflect on the value of FC in their teaching practice. FC, a pedagogical model requiring digital competence of students and teachers, has been a popular teaching approach for nearly two decades in K-12 and higher education. After the outbreak of Covid-19, more teachers have started to implement FC. In post-Covid-19, with the possibility of reusing video lectures made during the pandemic and the familiarity of digital skills to create digital lectures, a question for teachers is whether to continue with this approach. This paper follows an explanatory sequential mixed methods research approach. Insights from student teachers (STs) in the field of English as a foreign language (EFL) in Norway are the primary data, and surveys and focus group interviews are the main instruments to collect the data. FC’s advantages and challenges perceived by STs are reported, and the possibility of STs becoming future flippers is explored. Findings from this paper indicate that STs would like to have more courses flipped in their studies, yet STs seem hesitant about flipping their courses in their teaching practice. STs also provide some practical suggestions on implementing the FC approach.
Comparing the Above and Below-Ground Chemical Defences of Three Rumex Species Between Their Native and Introduced Provenances
Authors: Costan Cristian-Andrei , Godsoe William , Bufford Jennifer L. , Hulme Philip E.
Published: May 2023

Compared to their native range, non-native plants often experience reduced levels of herbivory in the introduced range. This may result in reduced pressure to produce chemical defences that act against herbivores. We measured the most abundant secondary metabolites found in Rumex spp., namely oxalates, phenols and tannins. To test this hypothesis, we compared native (UK) and introduced (NZ) provenances of three different Rumex species (R. obtusifolius, R. crispus and R. conglomeratus, Polygonaceae) to assess whether any significant differences existed in their levels of chemical defences in either leaves and roots. All three species have previously been shown to support a lower diversity of insect herbivores and experience less herbivory in the introduced range. We further examined leaf herbivory on plants from both provenances when grown together in a common garden experiment in New Zealand to test whether any differences in damage might be consistent with variation in the quantity of chemical defences. We found that two Rumex species (R. obtusifolius and R. crispus) showed no evidence for a reduction in chemical defences, while a third (R. conglomeratus) showed only limited evidence. The common garden experiment revealed that the leaves analysed had low levels of herbivory (~ 0.5%) with no differences in damage between provenances for any of the three study species. Roots tended to have a higher concentration of tannins than shoots, but again showed no difference between the provenances. As such, the findings of this study provide no evidence for lower plant investments in chemical defences, suggesting that other factors explain the success of Rumex spp. in New Zealand.
Split-root system as a useful tool to study woody plant biology
Authors: Giertych Marian J. , Leski Tomasz
Published: May 2023

The split-root system technique has been used to analyse plant biology for several decades, but woody plants have not received enough attention in this experimental approach. Historically, several methods have been developed, ranging from the simplest method of dividing a root into two parts and placing them in separate containers to more complex methods, such as grafting a second root from another plant. Each method has advantages and disadvantages that determine the goals of the experiment. Thus far, research using the split-root system has covered only 62 species of woody plants, mainly to investigate the water shortage effect on water acquisition. Many studies have also considered the significance of functional root-system diversity for plant fertilisation, which allows a better understanding of ion transport regulation mechanisms and some anatomical and functional features of woody plants. Ion uptake and transport have been studied frequently using isotope labelling. The split-root system method also offers interesting possibilities for studying the interactions of plants with other organisms. For example, this method was used to study root colonization strategies by mycorrhizal fungi. The comprehensive analysis of the split-root system technique in this review provides fine-scale information on the future concepts needed to study root-system biology, as the ability of roots to play a range of functions in the plant remains largely untested.
Additional morphological characters of the nematode Capillostrongyloides fritschi (Travassos, 1914) Moravec, 1982 (Nematoda: Capillaridae) from Bagrus spp. (Bagridae) inhabiting Damietta Branch of the River Nile, Egypt with a special reference to evaginated cirrus
Authors: Allam Hend E. , Mashaly Mohamed I. , EL-Naggar Mohamed M.
Published: May 2023

The catfish Bagrus bajad (Forsskål) and B. docmak (Forsskål) (Siluriformes: Bagridae) are well distributed in the River Nile and have an economic value with good marketing and use in aquaculture. Collected specimens of Capillostrongyloides fritschi (Travassos 1914) were redescribed using a phase-contrast microscope and scanning electron microscope. The most remarkable finding was the unique structure of the evaginated cirrus, being composed of a proximal long tube, a middle spherical bulb packed with mature spermatozoa, and a distal funnel-shaped structure. All regions of the cirrus are provided with longitudinal and transverse muscles and covered with transverse cuticular folds. The mechanism of cirrus emergence was discussed based on available musculature data. Other important findings are the short stylet of the mouth, the two lateral oral lobes, 6-10 buried cephalic papillae and the bacillary bands that lack elevations. Stichosome is formed of 35-44 stichocytes that were differentiated into black and white forms, each containing dense granules and translucent vacuoles. The intestine showed a convoluted part at its anterior region. The vulvar lips are slightly elevated, many mature eggs are cleaved, and their shells are 3-layered. The anus was found in a groove bounded by two unequal lobes.
Influencing Factors and New Reference Intervals of Adult Thyroid Volume in Iodine-Sufficient Areas of China
Authors: Lin Zheyu , Lu Cihang , Teng Di , Sun Ying , Liu Tingting , Li Yongze , Shan Zhongyan , Teng Weiping ,   The Thyroid disorders Iodine status,   Diabetes Epidemiological Survey Group (TIDE)
Published: May 2023

The diagnosis of goiter is based on the thyroid volume measured by ultrasound in which iodine plays an important role. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factors that affect thyroid volume and update the reference range of thyroid volume to provide a new basis for the diagnosis and treatment of goiter. A study population from mainland China was evaluated in the Thyroid disorders, Iodine status and Diabetes Epidemiological (TIDE) study. Thyroid size was measured by ultrasound, and thyroid volume was calculated. A quantile regression model was used to analyze the influence of related factors on the thyroid volume at each percentile. The median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was 185.54 μg/l. The quantile regression model suggested that body surface area (BSA) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were positive and negative factors for thyroid volume, respectively (p < 0.01). Excess iodine reduces the median and lower limits of thyroid volume. In iodine-sufficient areas, smoking is no longer a risk factor. The reference value range of thyroid volume stratified by sex was 3.92–19.06 ml for males and 3.1–16.17 ml for females. The maximum reference ranges for stratification by sex and BSA were 4.25–20.98 ml for men and 3.44–18.31 ml for women. The iodine nutrition level of the population in mainland China is sufficient. Iodine has the potential to alter the effect of certain factors on thyroid volume and effect is not regional. The new reference interval of adult thyroid volume based on sex and BSA has been updated, which can be used as a reliable reference for updating the diagnostic criteria of endemic goiter.
Non-canonical role for the ataxia-telangiectasia-Rad3 pathway in STAT3 activation in human multiple myeloma cells
Authors: Li Lin , Hu Xiaoyan , Nkwocha Jewel , Sharma Kanika , Kmieciak Maciej , Mann Hashim , Zhou Liang , Grant Steven
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The goal of this study was to characterize the relationship between ATR and STAT3 interactions in human multiple myeloma (MM) cells.

Methods

Various MM cell lines, including IL-6-dependent cells were exposed to ATR inhibitors and effects on STAT3 Tyr705 and Ser727 were monitored by WB analysis and ImageStream analysis. Parallel studies examined induction of cell death, STAT3 DNA binding activity, and expression of STAT3 downstream targets (BCL-XL, MCL-1, c-MYC). Validation was obtained in ATR shRNA knock-down cells, and in cells ectopically expressing BCL-XL, MCL-1, or c-MYC. Analogous studies were performed in primary MM cells and in a MM xenograft model.

Results

Multiple pharmacologic ATR inhibitors inhibited STAT3 Tyr705 (but not Ser727) phosphorylation at low uM concentrations and down-regulated BCL-XL, MCL-1, c-MYC in association with cell death induction. Compatible results were observed in ATR shRNA knock-down cells. Cell death induced by ATR inhibitors was significantly attenuated in cells ectopically expressing constitutively active STAT3, BCL-XL, MCL-1, or c-MYC. Concordant results were observed in primary human MM cells and in an in vivo MM xenograft model.

Conclusions

Collectively, these findings argue for a non-canonical role for the ATR kinase in STAT3 activation in MM cells, and suggest that STAT3 inactivation contributes to the lethal actions of ATR inhibitors in MM.
Understanding and analysing the complex causality of conflicts over marine environments through process tracing
Authors: Boonstra Wiebren Johannes , Dahlet Lol , Eriksson Björn , Selim S. A. , van Putten E. I.
Published: May 2023

As economic activity in marine environments accelerates and expands, conflicts may increase following increased demand over marine resources, unequal distribution of benefits, as well as fluctuating resource availability and quality due to climate change. Anticipation and resolution of these conflicts require understanding of the causal mechanisms through which they originate and persist. Process tracing is a promising social science method that allows producing this knowledge by sequentially ordering events that produce conflict. The aim of this paper is to introduce process tracing as a method for the study of conflicts over marine environments and to assess how the method so far is used in previous studies of conflicts over marine environments. Our review of these studies reveals that scholars of conflicts over marine environments tend to apply process tracing using a deductive approach and a probabilistic understanding of causal mechanisms. The causal mechanisms that are identified to understand the dynamics that drive conflicts over marine environments often include power dynamics between states, institutions, movements or communities. Less articulated is how local social dynamics drives conflicts and how scholars select their cases to represent a wider population of conflicts. We conclude that applying a micro-sociological approach, more attention to case selection, and the interaction between contexts and mechanisms are promising ways forward for further use of process tracing in maritime studies.
Impact of COVID-related Discrimination on Psychological Distress and Sleep Disturbances across Race-Ethnicity
Authors: Strassle Paula D. , Wilkerson Miciah J. , Stewart Anita L. , Forde Allana T. , Jackson Chandra L. , Singh Rupsha , Nápoles Anna María
Published: May 2023

COVID-related discrimination towards historically marginalized racial-ethnic groups in the United States has been well-documented; however, its impact on psychological distress and sleep (overall and within specific racial-ethnic groups) is largely unknown. We used data from our nationally representative, online survey of 5,500 American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Latino, White, and multiracial adults, conducted from 12/2020-2/2021. Participants were asked how often they experienced discriminatory behaviors “because they think you might have COVID-19” (modified Everyday Discrimination Scale). Psychological distress was captured as having experienced anxiety-depression symptoms (Patient Health Questionairre-4, PHQ-4), perceived stress (modified Perceived Stress Scale), or loneliness-isolation (“How often have you felt lonely and isolated?”). Sleep disturbances were measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Information System Short Form Sleep Disturbance scale (PROMIS-SF 4a). Overall, 22.1% reported COVID-related discriminatory behaviors (sometimes/always: 9.7%; rarely: 12.4%). 48.4% of participants reported anxiety-depression symptoms (moderate/severe: 23.7% mild: 24.8%), 62.4% reported feeling stressed (moderate/severe: 34.3%; mild: 28,1%), 61.0% reported feeling lonely-isolated (fairly often/very often: 21.3%; almost never/sometimes: 39.7%), and 35.4% reported sleep disturbances (moderate/severe:19.8%; mild: 15.6%). Discrimination was only associated with increased psychological distress among racial-ethnic minorities. For example, COVID-related discrimination was strongly associated with anxiety-depression among Black/African American adults (mild: aOR=2.12, 95% CI=1.43-5.17; moderate/severe: aOR=5.19, 95% CI=3.35-8.05), but no association was observed among White or multiracial adults. Mitigating pandemic-related discrimination could help alleviate mental and sleep health disparities occurring among minoritized racial-ethnic groups.
Physical Regime Sensitivity
Authors: Prime M. B. , Merson J. S. , Chen S.-R.
Published: May 2023

This work presents a novel sensitivity approach that quantifies sensitivity to regimes of a model’s state variables rather than constitutive model parameters. This Physical Regime Sensitivity (PRS) determines which regimes of a model’s independent variables have the biggest influence on an experiment or application. PRS analysis is demonstrated on a strength model used in the simulation of a copper Taylor cylinder. In a series of simulations, the strength model was perturbed sequentially in local regimes of plastic strain, plastic strain rate, temperature and pressure, and then the prediction of cylinder shape was compared to unperturbed calculations. Results show, for example, that the deformed length of the cylinder was most sensitive to strength at a strain rate of 1.0 × 104/sec., but the deformed footprint radius was most sensitive to strength at a strain rate of about 4.0 × 104/sec. Compared to current histogram approaches, PRS can be used to design or interpret integrated experiments by identifying not just which regimes are accessed somewhere in the experiment but the causality question of which regimes actually affect the measured data. PRS should allow one to focus experimental and modeling efforts where they are most needed and to better interpret experiments.
Pulses of Cold Atlantic Water in the Arctic Ocean From an Ocean Model Simulation
Authors: Fu Chuanshuai , Pennelly Clark , Garcia‐Quintana Yarisbel , Myers Paul G.
Published: May 2023

The intrusion of the warm and saline Atlantic Water (AW) has significant implications and feedback on the dynamics and thermodynamics of the Arctic Ocean. The AW enters the Arctic Ocean through two gateways: Fram Strait (FS) and the Barents Sea Opening (BSO). The AW is the dominant source of oceanic heat to the Arctic Ocean. In conjunction with the measurements in key hydrographic sections, numerical ocean modeling provides us with a useful tool to characterize and corroborate the temporal and spatial variability of the AW branches. Simulations are conducted using the regional configuration Arctic and North Hemispheric Atlantic (ANHA) of the ocean/sea‐ice model Nucleus for Modeling of the Ocean running at 1/4° and 1/12° resolution. Online passive tracers from the model configuration are used to trace the pathways of the AW inflow in the Arctic Ocean. While studying the variability of the AW through FS and the BSO, a cold mode of AW (Cold Atlantic Water [CAW]) with a temperature below 0℃ is detected along the rim of the eastern Eurasian Basin. It is formed primarily due to the intense sea surface cooling of the AW in the Barents and Kara Seas. The CAW exhibits the cascading process as it propagates downstream through the St. Anna Trough, leading to a considerable mixing with the ambient water. The CAW pulses eventually result in a significant heat content reduction in the eastern Arctic. This study provides insight into the changing AW property and its potential impact on the Arctic Basin.
Tectonic Evolution of a Sedimented Oceanic Transform Fault: The Owen Transform Fault, Indian Ocean
Authors: Janin Alexandre , Chamot‐Rooke Nicolas , Delescluse Matthias , Fournier Marc , Olive Jean‐Arthur , Rabaute Alain , Huchon Philippe , Dyment Jérôme , Vigny Christophe , Rodriguez Mathieu
Published: May 2023

The Owen transform fault (OTF) connecting the Sheba and the Carlsberg spreading ridges in the Indian Ocean currently forms the active plate boundary between India and Somalia plates. This 330‐km‐long transform fault is by far the longest transform fault along the India‐Somalia plate boundary and its valley is buried under the thick distal turbidites of the Indus Fan with total thickness ranging from 1,000 to >5,000 m. A new set of seismic reflection and multibeam bathymetric data reveals remarkable transpressive structures along its entire length recorded as folds in the sedimentary cover, eruption of mud ridges at the seafloor, thrusts in the young oceanic lithosphere. Based on a new regional time‐calibration of the seismic reflectors, we show that sediments in the transform valley (post 8.6 Ma) recorded a period of tectonic quiescence until the onset of a transpressive event around 1.5–2.4 Ma that we relate to a minor change in India‐Somalia kinematics not captured by magnetic anomalies. This tectonic regime is still active based on compressive earthquakes and deformation of the most recent sediments. Transpression resulted in the formation of a proto‐median ridge and the coeval propagation of the tip of the Carlsberg Ridge into the Somalian plate. These features are typically encountered at many other transform faults but rarely captured in their very early stage.
A novel microRNA-182/Interleukin-8 regulatory axis controls osteolytic bone metastasis of lung cancer
Authors: Zhao Ming-Na , Zhang Ling-Fei , Sun Zhen , Qiao Li-Hua , Yang Tao , Ren Yi-Zhe , Zhang Xian-Zhou , Wu Lei , Qian Wen-Li , Guo Qiao-Mei , Xu Wan-Xing , Wang Xue-Qing , Wu Fei , Wang Lin , Gu Yutong , Liu Mo-Fang , Lou Jia-Tao
Published: May 2023

Bone metastasis is one of the main complications of lung cancer and most important factors that lead to poor life quality and low survival rate in lung cancer patients. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying lung cancer bone metastasis are still poor understood. Here, we report that microRNA-182 (miR-182) plays a critical role in regulating osteoclastic metastasis of lung cancer cells. We found that miR-182 was significantly upregulated in both bone-metastatic human non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line and tumor specimens. We further demonstrated that miR-182 markedly enhanced the ability of NSCLC cells for osteolytic bone metastasis in nude mice. Mechanistically, miR-182 promotes NSCLC cells to secrete Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and in turn facilitates osteoclastogenesis via activating STAT3 signaling in osteoclast progenitor cells. Importantly, systemically delivered IL-8 neutralizing antibody inhibits NSCLC bone metastasis in nude mice. Collectively, our findings identify the miR-182/IL-8/STAT3 axis as a key regulatory pathway in controlling lung cancer cell-induced osteolytic bone metastasis and suggest a promising therapeutic strategy that targets this regulatory axis to interrupt lung cancer bone metastasis.
A molecular descriptor of intramolecular noncovalent interaction for regulating optoelectronic properties of organic semiconductors
Authors: Liu Meihui , Han Xiao , Chen Hao , Peng Qian , Huang Hui
Published: May 2023

In recent years, intramolecular noncovalent interaction has become an important means to modulate the optoelectronic performances of organic/polymeric semiconductors. However, it lacks a deep understanding and a direct quantitative relationship among the molecular geometric structure, strength of noncovalent interaction, and optoelectronic properties in organic/polymeric semiconductors. Herein, upon systematical theoretical calculations on 56 molecules with and without noncovalent interactions (X···Y, X = O, S, Se, Te; Y = C, F, O, S, Cl), we reveal the essence of the interactions and the dependence of its strength on the molecular geometry. Importantly, a descriptor S is established as a function of several basic geometric parameters to well characterize the noncovalent interaction energy, which exhibits a good inverse correlation with the reorganization energies of the photo-excited states or electron-pumped charged states in organic/polymeric semiconductors. In particular, the experimental 1H, 77Se, and 125Te NMR, the optical absorption and emission spectra, and single crystal structures of eight compounds fully confirm the theoretical predictions. This work provides a simple descriptor to characterize the strength of noncovalent intramolecular interactions, which is significant for molecular design and property prediction.
Investigating the oral microbiome in retrospective and prospective cases of prostate, colon, and breast cancer
Authors: Nearing Jacob T. , DeClercq Vanessa , Langille Morgan G. I.
Published: May 2023

The human microbiome has been proposed as a potentially useful biomarker for several cancers. To examine this, we made use of salivary samples from the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (PATH) project and Alberta’s Tomorrow Project (ATP). Sample selection was divided into both a retrospective and prospective case control design examining prostate, breast, and colon cancer. In total 89 retrospective and 260 prospective cancer cases were matched to non-cancer controls and saliva samples were sequenced using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We found no significant differences in alpha diversity. All beta diversity measures were insignificant except for unweighted UniFrac profiles in retrospective breast cancer cases and weighted UniFrac, Bray-Curtis and Robust Atchinson’s distances in colon cancer after testing with age and sex adjusted MiRKAT models. Differential abundance (DA) analysis showed several taxa that were associated with previous cancer in all three groupings. Only one genus (ClostridiaUCG-014) in breast cancer and one ASV (Fusobacterium periodonticum) in colon cancer was identified by more than one DA tool. In prospective cases three ASVs were associated with colon cancer, one ASV with breast cancer, and one ASV with prostate cancer. Random Forest classification showed low levels of signal in both study designs in breast and prostate cancer. Contrastingly, colon cancer did show signal in our retrospective analysis (AUC: 0.737) and in one of two prospective cohorts (AUC: 0.717). Our results indicate that it is unlikely that reliable microbial oral biomarkers for breast and prostate cancer exist.. However, further research into the oral microbiome and colon cancer could be fruitful.
Catalytic enantioselective nucleophilic desymmetrization of phosphonate esters
Authors: Formica Michele , Rogova Tatiana , Shi Heyao , Sahara Naoto , Ferko Branislav , Farley Alistair J. M. , Christensen Kirsten E. , Duarte Fernanda , Yamazaki Ken , Dixon Darren J.
Published: May 2023

Molecules that contain a stereogenic phosphorus atom are crucial to medicine, agrochemistry and catalysis. While methods are available for the selective construction of various chiral organophosphorus compounds, catalytic enantioselective approaches for their synthesis are far less common. Given the vastness of possible substituent combinations around a phosphorus atom, protocols for their preparation should also be divergent, providing facile access not only to one but to many classes of phosphorus compounds. Here we introduce a catalytic and enantioselective strategy for the preparation of an enantioenriched phosphorus(V) centre that can be diversified enantiospecifically to a wide range of biologically relevant phosphorus(V) compounds. The process, which involves an enantioselective nucleophilic substitution catalysed by a superbasic bifunctional iminophosphorane catalyst, can accommodate a wide range of carbon substituents at phosphorus. The resulting stable, yet versatile, synthetic intermediates can be combined with a multitude of medicinally relevant O-, N- and S-based nucleophiles.