bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surveying a Floating Iceberg With the USV SEADRAGON
Authors: Zhou Mingxi , Bachmayer Ralf , DeYoung Brad
Published: July 2021

The calving, drifting, and melting of icebergs has local, regional, and global implications. Besides the impacts to local ecosystems due to changes in seawater salinity and temperature, the freshwater influx and transport can have significant regional effects related to the ocean circulation. The increased influx of freshwater ice due to increase calving from ice shelves and the destabilization of the continental ice sheet will affect sea levels globally. In addition, drifting icebergs pose threats to offshore operations because they could damage offshore installations, e.g., pipelines and subsea manifolds, and interrupt marine transportation. Iceberg drift and deterioration models have been developed to better predict climate change and protect offshore operations. Iceberg shape is one of the most critical parameters in these models, but it is challenging to obtain because of iceberg movement caused by winds, waves, and currents. In this paper, we present an algorithm for iceberg motion estimation and shape reconstruction based on in-situ point cloud measurements. The algorithm is developed based on point cloud matching strategies, policy-based optimization, and Kalman filtering. A down-sampling method is also integrated to reduce the processing time for possible real-time applications. The motion estimation algorithm is applied to a simulated data set and field measurements collected by an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) on a free-floating, translating, and rotating, iceberg. In the field data, the above-water iceberg surface was measured with a scanning LIDAR, while the below-water portion (0–50 m) was profiled using a side-looking multi-beam sonar. When applying the motion estimation algorithm to these two independent point cloud measurements collected by the two sensing modalities, consistent iceberg motion estimates are obtained. The resulting motion estimates are then used to reconstruct the iceberg shape. During the field experiment, additional oceanographic measurements, such as temperature, ocean current, and wind, were collected simultaneously by the USV. We have observed water upwelling and a colder and fresher water plume at the sea surface downstream the iceberg. Combining the iceberg shape rendering and the surrounding environmental measurements, we estimated the iceberg melting parameters due to the sensible heat flux and surface wave erosion at different iceberg sections.
The Osmolyte Ties That Bind: Genomic Insights Into Synthesis and Breakdown of Organic Osmolytes in Marine Microbes
Authors: McParland Erin L. , Alexander Harriet , Johnson Winifred M.
Published: July 2021

The production and consumption of organic matter by marine organisms plays a central role in the marine carbon cycle. Labile organic compounds (metabolites) are the major currency of energetic demands and organismal interaction, but these compounds remain elusive because of their rapid turnover and concomitant minuscule concentrations in the dissolved organic matter pool. Organic osmolytes are a group of small metabolites synthesized at high intracellular concentrations (mM) to regulate cellular osmolarity and have the potential to be released as abundant dissolved substrates. Osmolytes may represent an essential currency of exchange among heterotrophic prokaryotes and primary and secondary producers in marine food webs. For example, the well-known metabolite dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is used as an osmolyte by some phytoplankton and can be subsequently metabolized by 60% of the marine bacterial community, supplying up to 13% of the bacterial carbon demand and 100% of the bacterial sulfur demand. While marine osmolytes have been studied for decades, our understanding of their cycling and significance within microbial communities is still far from comprehensive. Here, we surveyed the genes responsible for synthesis, breakdown, and transport of 14 key osmolytes. We systematically searched for these genes across marine bacterial genomes (n = 897) and protistan transcriptomes (n = 652) using homologous protein profiles to investigate the potential for osmolyte metabolisms. Using the pattern of gene presence and absence, we infer the metabolic potential of surveyed microbes to interact with each osmolyte. Specifically, we identify: (1) complete pathways for osmolyte synthesis in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic marine microbes, (2) microbes capable of transporting osmolytes but lacking complete synthesis and/or breakdown pathways, and (3) osmolytes whose synthesis and/or breakdown appears to be specialized and is limited to a subset of organisms. The analysis clearly demonstrates that the marine microbial loop has the genetic potential to actively recycle osmolytes and that this abundant group of small metabolites may function as a significant source of nutrients through exchange among diverse microbial groups that significantly contribute to the cycling of labile carbon.
In vitro Symbiosis of Reef-Building Coral Cells With Photosynthetic Dinoflagellates
Authors: Kawamura Kaz , Sekida Satoko , Nishitsuji Koki , Shoguchi Eiichi , Hisata Kanako , Fujiwara Shigeki , Satoh Noriyuki
Published: July 2021

Coral reefs are the biodiversity hot spots of the oceans, but they have suffered from increasing environmental stresses caused principally by anthropogenic global warming. The keystone species of coral reefs are scleractinian corals, which maintain obligatory symbiotic relationships with photosynthetic dinoflagellates. Understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms of symbiosis is therefore essential for future preservation of coral reefs. To date, however, almost no in vitro experimental systems have been devised to illuminate such mechanisms. To this end, our previous study established stable in vitro cell culture lines, including IVB5, originating from planula larvae of the scleractinian coral, Acropora tenuis. Here, we show that soon after mixture with the dinoflagellate, Breviolum minutum, flattened amorphous coral cells with endodermal properties exhibited elevated locomotor activity using filopodia and lamellipodia and interacted with dinoflagellates. Several minutes thereafter, coral cells began to incorporate B. minutum, and in vitro symbiosis appeared to have been accomplished within 30 min. Nearly a half of the coral cells had incorporated algal cells within 24 h in a reproducible manner. Coral cells that harbored algal cells gradually became round and less mobile, and the algal cells sometimes settled in vacuole-like structures in coral cell cytoplasm. This symbiosis state was maintained for at least a month. The IVB5 line of A. tenuis therefore provides an experimental system to explore cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis at the single-cell level, results of which may be useful for future preservation of coral reefs.
An Ecological Basis for Dual Genetic Code Expansion in Marine Deltaproteobacteria
Authors: Kivenson Veronika , Paul Blair G. , Valentine David L.
Published: July 2021

Marine benthic environments may be shaped by anthropogenic and other localized events, leading to changes in microbial community composition evident decades after a disturbance. Marine sediments in particular harbor exceptional taxonomic diversity and can shed light on distinctive evolutionary strategies. Genetic code expansion is a strategy that increases the structural and functional diversity of proteins in cells, by repurposing stop codons to encode non-canonical amino acids: pyrrolysine (Pyl) and selenocysteine (Sec). Here, we report both a study of the microbiome at a deep sea industrial waste dumpsite and an unanticipated discovery of codon reassignment in its most abundant member, with potential ramifications for interpreting microbial interactions with ocean-dumped wastes. The genomes of abundant Deltaproteobacteria from the sediments of a deep-ocean chemical waste dump site have undergone genetic code expansion. Pyl and Sec in these organisms appear to augment trimethylamine (TMA) and one-carbon metabolism, representing an increased metabolic versatility. The inferred metabolism of these sulfate-reducing bacteria places them in competition with methylotrophic methanogens for TMA, a contention further supported by earlier isotope tracer studies and reanalysis of metatranscriptomic studies. A survey of genomic data further reveals a broad geographic distribution of a niche group of similarly specialized Deltaproteobacteria, including at sulfidic sites in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Guaymas Basin, and North Sea, as well as in terrestrial and estuarine environments. These findings reveal an important biogeochemical role for specialized Deltaproteobacteria at the interface of the carbon, nitrogen, selenium, and sulfur cycles, with their niche adaptation and ecological success potentially augmented by genetic code expansion.
Negative Impact of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Y12 on Its Host Musca domestica
Authors: Zhang Qian , Wang Shumin , Zhang Xinyu , Zhang Ruiling , Zhang Zhong
Published: July 2021

High concentrations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Y12 significantly inhibit the development of housefly larvae and accelerate larvae death. In this study, the dynamic distribution of the gut microbiota of housefly larvae fed different concentrations of P. aeruginosa Y12 was investigated. Compared with low-concentration P. aeruginosa diets, orally administered high-concentration P. aeruginosa diets caused higher mortality and had a greater impact on the community structure and interaction network of intestinal flora in housefly larvae. The bacterial community of the gut microbiota in housefly larvae was reconstructed in 4 days. Bacterial abundance and diversity were significantly reduced in housefly larvae fed high concentrations of P. aeruginosa. With the growth of larvae, the relative abundances of Providencia, Proteus, Myroides, Klebsiella, and Alcaligenes increased significantly in housefly larvae fed with high concentrations of P. aeruginosa, while the relative abundances of Bordetella, Enterobacter, Morganella, Ochrobactrum, Alcaligenaceae, and Empedobacter were significantly reduced. To analyze the role of the gut microorganisms played on housefly development, a total of 10 cultivable bacterial species belonging to 9 genera were isolated from the intestine of housefly larvae among which Enterobacter hormaechei, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, and Bacillus safensis promoted the growth of larvae through feeding experiments. This study is the first to analyze the influence of high concentrations of P. aeruginosa on the gut microbiota of houseflies. Our study provides a basis for exploring the pathogenic mechanism of high concentrations of P. aeruginosa Y12 in houseflies.
Calicivirus Non-structural Proteins: Potential Functions in Replication and Host Cell Manipulation
Authors: Smertina Elena , Hall Robyn N. , Urakova Nadya , Strive Tanja , Frese Michael
Published: July 2021

TheCaliciviridaeare a family of viruses with a single-stranded, non-segmented RNA genome of positive polarity. The ongoing discovery of caliciviruses has increased the number of genera in this family to 11 (Norovirus,Nebovirus,Sapovirus,Lagovirus,Vesivirus,Nacovirus,Bavovirus,Recovirus,Salovirus,Minovirus, andValovirus). Caliciviruses infect a wide range of hosts that include fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and marine and land mammals. All caliciviruses have a genome that encodes a major and a minor capsid protein, a genome-linked viral protein, and several non-structural proteins. Of these non-structural proteins, only the helicase, protease, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase share clear sequence and structural similarities with proteins from other virus families. In addition, all caliciviruses express two or three non-structural proteins for which functions have not been clearly defined. The sequence diversity of these non-structural proteins and a multitude of processing strategies suggest that at least some have evolved independently, possibly to counteract innate and adaptive immune responses in a host-specific manner. Studying these proteins is often difficult as many caliciviruses cannot be grown in cell culture. Nevertheless, the study of recombinant proteins has revealed many of their properties, such as intracellular localization, capacity to oligomerize, and ability to interact with viral and/or cellular proteins; the release of non-structural proteins from transfected cells has also been investigated. Here, we will summarize these findings and discuss recentin silicostudies that identified previously overlooked putative functional domains and structural features, including transmembrane domains that suggest the presence of viroporins.
Identification of Key Biomarkers and Immune Infiltration in Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis by Integrated Bioinformatic Analysis
Authors: Zhang Min , Dai Rongxin , Zhao Qin , Zhou Lina , An Yunfei , Tang Xuemei , Zhao Xiaodong
Published: July 2021

Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) is a rare and serious type of JIA characterized by an unknown etiology and atypical manifestations in the early stage, and early diagnosis and effective treatment are needed. We aimed to identify diagnostic biomarkers, immune cells and pathways involved in sJIA pathogenesis as well as potential treatment targets. The GSE17590, GSE80060, and GSE112057 gene expression profiles from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were screened to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between sJIA and healthy controls. Common DEGs were subjected to pathway enrichment analysis; a protein-protein interaction network was constructed, and hub genes were identified. In addition, functional annotation of hub genes was performed with GenCLiP2. Immune infiltration analysis was then conducted with xCell, and correlation analysis between immune cells and the enriched pathways identified from gene set variation analysis was performed. The Connectivity Map database was used to identify candidate molecules for treating sJIA patients. Finally, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was carried out, and the GEO dataset GSE8361 was applied for validation of hub gene expression levels in blood samples from healthy individuals with sJIA. A total of 73 common DEGs were identified, and analysis indicated enrichment of neutrophil and platelet functions and the MAPK pathway in sJIA. Six hub genes were identified, of which three had high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity; ARG1 and PGLYRP1 were validated by qRT-PCR and microarray data of the GSE8361 dataset. We found that increased megakaryocytes and decreased Th1 cells correlated positively and negatively with the MAPK pathway, respectively. Furthermore, MEK inhibitors and some kinase inhibitors of the MAPK family were identified as candidate agents for sJIA treatment. Our results indicate two candidate markers for sJIA diagnosis and reveal the important roles of platelets and the MAPK pathway in the pathogenesis of sJIA, providing a new perspective for exploring potential molecular targets for sJIA treatment.
Brain Frequency-Specific Changes in the Spontaneous Neural Activity Are Associated With Cognitive Impairment in Patients With Presbycusis
Authors: Ren Fuxin , Ma Wen , Zong Wei , Li Ning , Li Xiao , Li Fuyan , Wu Lili , Li Honghao , Li Muwei , Gao Fei
Published: July 2021

Presbycusis (PC) is characterized by preferential hearing loss at high frequencies and difficulty in speech recognition in noisy environments. Previous studies have linked PC to cognitive impairment, accelerated cognitive decline and incident Alzheimer’s disease. However, the neural mechanisms of cognitive impairment in patients with PC remain unclear. Although resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) studies have explored low-frequency oscillation (LFO) connectivity or amplitude of PC-related neural activity, it remains unclear whether the abnormalities occur within all frequency bands or within specific frequency bands. Fifty-one PC patients and fifty-one well-matched normal hearing controls participated in this study. The LFO amplitudes were investigated using the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) at different frequency bands (slow-4 and slow-5). PC patients showed abnormal LFO amplitudes in the Heschl’s gyrus, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), frontal eye field and key nodes of the speech network exclusively in slow-4, which suggested that abnormal spontaneous neural activity in PC was frequency dependent. Our findings also revealed that stronger functional connectivity between the dlPFC and the posterodorsal stream of auditory processing, as well as lower functional coupling between the PCC and key nodes of the DMN, which were associated with cognitive impairments in PC patients. Our study might underlie the cross-modal plasticity and higher-order cognitive participation of the auditory cortex after partial hearing deprivation. Our findings indicate that frequency-specific analysis of ALFF could provide valuable insights into functional alterations in the auditory cortex and non-auditory regions involved in cognitive impairment associated with PC.
Screening Tools and Assessment Methods of Cognitive Decline Associated With Age-Related Hearing Loss: A Review
Authors: Yue Tao , Chen Yu , Zheng Qi , Xu Zihao , Wang Wei , Ni Guangjian
Published: July 2021

Strong links between hearing and cognitive function have been confirmed by a growing number of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Seniors with age-related hearing loss (ARHL) have a significantly higher cognitive impairment incidence than those with normal hearing. The correlation mechanism between ARHL and cognitive decline is not fully elucidated to date. However, auditory intervention for patients with ARHL may reduce the risk of cognitive decline, as early cognitive screening may improve related treatment strategies. Currently, clinical audiology examinations rarely include cognitive screening tests, partly due to the lack of objective quantitative indicators with high sensitivity and specificity. Questionnaires are currently widely used as a cognitive screening tool, but the subject’s performance may be negatively affected by hearing loss. Numerous electroencephalogram (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies analyzed brain structure and function changes in patients with ARHL. These objective electrophysiological tools can be employed to reveal the association mechanism between auditory and cognitive functions, which may also find biological markers to be more extensively applied in assessing the progression towards cognitive decline and observing the effects of rehabilitation training for patients with ARHL. In this study, we reviewed clinical manifestations, pathological changes, and causes of ARHL and discussed their cognitive function effects. Specifically, we focused on current cognitive screening tools and assessment methods and analyzed their limitations and potential integration.
Quantitative Assessment of Stress Through EEG During a Virtual Reality Stress-Relax Session
Authors: Perez-Valero Eduardo , Vaquero-Blasco Miguel A. , Lopez-Gordo Miguel A. , Morillas Christian
Published: July 2021

Recent studies have addressed stress level classification via electroencephalography (EEG) and machine learning. These works typically use EEG-based features, like power spectral density (PSD), to develop stress classifiers. Nonetheless, these classifiers are usually limited to the discrimination of two (stress and no stress) or three (low, medium, and high) stress levels. In this study we propose an alternative for quantitative stress assessment based on EEG and regression algorithms. To this aim, we conducted a group of 23 participants (mean age 22.65 ± 5.48) over a stress-relax experience while monitoring their EEG. First, we stressed the participants via the Montreal imaging stress task (MIST), and then we led them through a 360-degree virtual reality (VR) relaxation experience. Throughout the session, the participants reported their self-perceived stress level (SPSL) via surveys. Subsequently, we extracted spectral features from the EEG of the participants and we developed individual models based on regression algorithms to predict their SPSL. We evaluated stress regression performance in terms of the mean squared percentage error (MSPE) and the correlation coefficient (R2). The results yielded from this evaluation (MSPE = 10.62 ± 2.12, R2 = 0.92 ± 0.02) suggest that our approach predicted the stress level of the participants with remarkable performance. These results may have a positive impact in diverse areas that could benefit from stress level quantitative prediction. These areas include research fields like neuromarketing, and training of professionals such as surgeons, industrial workers, or firefighters, that often face stressful situations.
Brain-Computer Interfaces for Children With Complex Communication Needs and Limited Mobility: A Systematic Review
Authors: Orlandi Silvia , House Sarah C. , Karlsson Petra , Saab Rami , Chau Tom
Published: July 2021

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) represent a new frontier in the effort to maximize the ability of individuals with profound motor impairments to interact and communicate. While much literature points to BCIs' promise as an alternative access pathway, there have historically been few applications involving children and young adults with severe physical disabilities. As research is emerging in this sphere, this article aims to evaluate the current state of translating BCIs to the pediatric population. A systematic review was conducted using the Scopus, PubMed, and Ovid Medline databases. Studies of children and adolescents that reported BCI performance published in English in peer-reviewed journals between 2008 and May 2020 were included. Twelve publications were identified, providing strong evidence for continued research in pediatric BCIs. Research evidence was generally at multiple case study or exploratory study level, with modest sample sizes. Seven studies focused on BCIs for communication and five on mobility. Articles were categorized and grouped based on type of measurement (i.e., non-invasive and invasive), and the type of brain signal (i.e., sensory evoked potentials or movement-related potentials). Strengths and limitations of studies were identified and used to provide requirements for clinical translation of pediatric BCIs. This systematic review presents the state-of-the-art of pediatric BCIs focused on developing advanced technology to support children and youth with communication disabilities or limited manual ability. Despite a few research studies addressing the application of BCIs for communication and mobility in children, results are encouraging and future works should focus on customizable pediatric access technologies based on brain activity.
Sodium Leak Channel in the Nucleus Accumbens Modulates Ethanol-Induced Acute Stimulant Responses and Locomotor Sensitization in Mice: A Brief Research Report
Authors: Wu Yujie , Zhang Donghang , Liu Jin , Yang Yaoxin , Ou Mengchan , Liu Bin , Zhou Cheng
Published: July 2021

Ethanol can induce acute stimulant responses in animals and human beings. Moreover, repeated exposure to ethanol may produce increased sensitivity to its acute locomotor stimulant actions, a process referred to as locomotor sensitization. The molecular mechanism of the development of acute stimulant responses and locomotor sensitization by ethanol is not fully understood. Sodium leak channel (NALCN) is widely expressed in central nervous system and controls the basal excitability of neurons. The present study aims to determine whether NALCN is implicated in the ethanol-induced acute responses and locomotor sensitization in mice. Here, our results showed that ethanol caused acute stimulant responses in DBA/2 mice. Locomotor sensitization was successfully induced following the sensitization procedure. Accordingly, the expression levels of NALCN mRNA and protein in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) were markedly increased in the sensitization mice compared to the control mice. Knockdown the expression levels of NALCN in the NAc alleviated both the ethanol-induced acute responses and locomotor sensitization. Our findings indicate that upregulation of NALCN expression in the NAc contributes to the ethanol-induced acute stimulant responses and locomotor sensitization in DBA/2 mice.
PF-06409577 Activates AMPK Signaling and Inhibits Osteosarcoma Cell Growth
Authors: Zhu Yun-Rong , Zhang Xiang-Yang , Wu Qiu-Ping , Yu Cheng-Jian , Liu Yuan-Yuan , Zhang Yun-Qing
Published: July 2021

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a common primary bone malignancy. We here investigated the potential activity of PF-06409577, a novel, potent, and direct activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), against human OS cells. In established (U2OS, MG-63, and SaOs-2 lines) and primary human OS cells, PF-06409577 inhibited cell viability and proliferation, while inducing cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. PF-06409577 induced AMPK activation, mTORC1 inhibition, autophagy induction, and downregulation of multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inOS cells. AMPK inactivation by AMPKα1 shRNA, CRISPR/Cas9 knockout, or dominant negative mutation (T172A) was able to abolish PF-06409577-induced activity in OS cells. In vivo, PF-06409577 oral administration at well-tolerated doses potently inhibited growth of U2OS cells and primary human OS cells in severe combined immunodeficient mice. AMPK activation, mTORC1 inhibition, autophagy induction, as well as RTK degradation and apoptosis activation were detected in PF-06409577-treated xenografts. In conclusion, activation of AMPK by PF-06409577 inhibits OS cell growth.
The Immune Microenvironment in Brain Metastases of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Luo Lumeng , Liu Peiyi , Zhao Kuaile , Zhao Weixin , Zhang Xiaofei
Published: July 2021

Brain metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer is associated with poor survival outcomes and poses rough clinical challenges. At the era of immunotherapy, it is urgent to perform a comprehensive study uncovering the specific immune microenvironment of brain metastases of NSCLC. The immune microenvironment of brain is distinctly different from microenvironments of extracranial lesions. In this review, we summarized the process of brain metastases across the barrier and revealed that brain is not completely immune-privileged. We comprehensively described the specific components of immune microenvironment for brain metastases such as central nervous system-derived antigen-presenting cells, microglia and astrocytes. Besides, the difference of immune microenvironment between brain metastases and primary foci of lung was particularly demonstrated.
Risk Factors for Poor Prognosis of Severe Infection in Children With Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome: A Double-Center, Retrospective Study
Authors: Zhang Hengci , Qiu Shiyuan , Zhong Cheng , Shi Lin , Li Jiacheng , Zhang Tao , Zhu Xiaoping , Wang Mo
Published: July 2021

Background: Infection is the most common complication of Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome (INS) and the main cause of INS recurrence, severe infection and even leading to mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors of severe infection in INS children and the clinical parameters influencing prognosis.

Methods: Totally 147 children with INS and concomitant infections were enrolled and classified into the severe infection group (SIG) and Non-severe infection group (Non-SIG). The clinical characteristics and auxiliary examination results were compared between the two groups, and the early-warning parameters for severe infection and risk factors for poor prognosis were evaluated.

Results: There were 49 patients in the SIG, 98 patients in the Non-SIG. In the SIG, the most common severe infections disease included severe pneumonia (63.6%), severe sepsis (30.6%), septic shock (4.1%). In SIG, Gram-positive bacteria (GPB) were more common, as was respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the three most common strains were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Staphylococcus epidermidis. There were more steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome and combination of steroids and immunosuppressants in SIG, compared with the Non-SIG (P = 0.000). Patients in the SIG has lower complement 3 (C3, ≤ 0.55 g/L,) and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC, ≤ 1.5 × 109/L) (P = 0.004). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the independent risk factors for severe infections were the combined use of immunosuppressants [95% confidence interval (CI):1.569–463.541, P = 0.023], steroid resistance (95% CI: 4.845–2,071.880, P = 0.003), C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥8 mg/L (95% CI: 43.581–959, 935.668, P = 0.001), and infections caused by GPB (95% CI: 27.126–2,118, 452.938, P = 0.002), influenza (95% CI: 2.494–1, 932.221, P = 0.012) and RSV (95% CI: 5.011–24 963.819, P = 0.007). The patients in the SIG were classified into the survival group (N = 39) and the mortality group (N = 5). Logistic regression analysis showed that white blood cell count (WBC) >15 × 109/L (95% CI: 1.046–2.844, P = 0.033) was an independent risk factor of poor prognosis for these patients.

Conclusions: Resistance to steroids, combined with steroids and IS agents, and GPB infections (especially SA) are high-risk factors for severe infection in children with INS. We should monitor CRP ≥ 8 mg/L, C3 ≤ 0.55 g/L and ALC ≤ 1.5 × 109/L to avoid developing severe infection. Accompanied by an increase in ANC, WBC significantly increased, suggesting a fatal infection.
Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Amino Acid Polyamine Organocation Transporter Family Genes Reveal Their Role in Fecundity Regulation in a Brown Planthopper Species (Nilaparvata lugens)
Authors: Yue Lei , Guan Ziying , Zhong Mingzhao , Zhao Luyao , Pang Rui , Liu Kai
Published: July 2021

The brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens Stål (Hemiptera:Delphacidae), is one of the most destructive pests of rice worldwide. As a sap-feeding insect, the BPH is incapable of synthesizing several amino acids which are essential for normal growth and development. Therefore, the insects have to acquire these amino acids from dietary sources or their endosymbionts, in which amino acid transporters (AATs) play a crucial role by enabling the movement of amino acids into and out of insect cells. In this study, a common amino acid transporter gene family of amino acid/polyamine/organocation (APC) was identified in BPHs and analyzed. Based on a homology search and conserved functional domain recognition, 20 putative APC transporters were identified in the BPH genome. Molecular trait analysis showed that the verified BPH APC family members were highly variable in protein features, conserved motif distribution patterns, and exon/intron organization. Phylogenetic analysis of five hemipteran species revealed an evolutionary pattern of interfamily conservation and lineage-specific expansion of this gene family. Moreover, stage- and tissue-specific expression analysis revealed diverse expression patterns in the 20 BPH APC transporter genes. Lastly, a potential BPH fecundity regulatory gene of NlAPC09 was identified and shown to participate in the fecundity regulation through the use of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and RNA inference experiments. Our results provide a basis for further functional investigations of APC transporters in BPH.
Non-invasive 11C-Imaging Revealed the Spatiotemporal Variability in the Translocation of Photosynthates Into Strawberry Fruits in Response to Increasing Daylight Integrals at Leaf Surface
Authors: Miyoshi Yuta , Hidaka Kota , Yin Yong-Gen , Suzui Nobuo , Kurita Keisuke , Kawachi Naoki
Published: July 2021

The efficiency of photosynthate translocation from leaves to fruits directly affects dry matter partitioning. Therefore, controlling photosynthate translocation dynamics is critical for high-yield and high-quality fruit production. Accordingly, photosynthate translocation changes must be characterized using data obtained at a higher spatiotemporal resolution than those provided by conventional methods. In this study,11C-photosynthate translocation into strawberry (Fragaria×ananassaDuch.) fruits in individual plants was visualized non-invasively and repeatedly using a positron emission tracer imaging system (PETIS) to assess the spatiotemporal variability in the translocation dynamics in response to increasing daylight integrals (i.e., 0.5-, 4.5-, and 9-h exposures to 400 μmol m–2s–1at the leaf surface). Serial images of photosynthate translocation into strawberry fruits obtained from the PETIS confirmed that11C-photosynthates were translocated heterogeneously into each fruit on the same inflorescence. The amount of translocated11C-photosynthates and the translocation rate into each fruit significantly increased as the integrated light intensity at the leaf surface increased. An analysis of the pedicel of each fruit also confirmed that the photosynthate translocation rate increased. The cumulated photosynthesis in leaves increased almost linearly during the light period, suggesting that an increase in the amount of photosynthates in leaves promotes the translocation of photosynthates from leaves, resulting in an increase in the photosynthate translocation rate in pedicels and enhanced photosynthate accumulation in fruits. Additionally, the distribution pattern of photosynthate translocated to fruits did not change during the light period, nor did the order of the sink activity (11C radioactivity/fruit dry weight), which is the driving force for the prioritization of the11C-partitioning between competing organs, among fruits. Thus, this is the first study to use11C-radioisotopes to clarify the spatiotemporal variability in photosynthate translocation from source leaves to individual sink fruitsin vivoin response to increasing daylight integrals at a high spatiotemporal resolution.
Identification and Confirmation of Loci Associated With Canopy Wilting in Soybean Using Genome-Wide Association Mapping
Authors: Chamarthi Siva K. , Kaler Avjinder S. , Abdel-Haleem Hussein , Fritschi Felix B. , Gillman Jason D. , Ray Jeffery D. , Smith James R. , Dhanapal Arun P. , King Charles A. , Purcell Larry C.
Published: July 2021

Drought causes significant soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield losses each year in rain-fed production systems of many regions. Genetic improvement of soybean for drought tolerance is a cost-effective approach to stabilize yield under rain-fed management. The objectives of this study were to confirm previously reported soybean loci and to identify novel loci associated with canopy wilting (CW) using a panel of 200 diverse maturity group (MG) IV accessions. These 200 accessions along with six checks were planted at six site-years using an augmented incomplete block design with three replications under irrigated and rain-fed treatments. Association mapping, using 34,680 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), identified 188 significant SNPs associated with CW that likely tagged 152 loci. This includes 87 SNPs coincident with previous studies that likely tagged 68 loci and 101 novel SNPs that likely tagged 84 loci. We also determined the ability of genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) from previous research studies to predict CW in different genotypes and environments. A positive relationship (P ≤ 0.05;0.37 ≤ r ≤ 0.5) was found between observed CW and GEBVs. In the vicinity of 188 significant SNPs, 183 candidate genes were identified for both coincident SNPs and novel SNPs. Among these 183 candidate genes, 57 SNPs were present within genes coding for proteins with biological functions involved in plant stress responses. These genes may be directly or indirectly associated with transpiration or water conservation. The confirmed genomic regions may be an important resource for pyramiding favorable alleles and, as candidates for genomic selection, enhancing soybean drought tolerance.
Syntactic Networks of Interlanguage Across L2 Modalities and Proficiency Levels
Authors: Hao Yuxin , Wang Xuelin , Wu Meng , Liu Haitao
Published: July 2021

Over time, interlanguage studies have shifted from early qualitative to quantitative studies of specific linguistic structures. However, the focus of these studies is usually on one aspect of an interlanguage instead of the whole system. The ideal object of interlanguage research is a second language (L2) learner language system, for only in this way can the entire L2 learning process can be examined. As a self-organizing and self-regulated system, the panorama of interlanguage can be revealed objectively through a complex network approach. In this study, we construct eight interlanguage dependency syntactic networks of varying proficiency levels and modalities, and conduct a quantitative study of respective network parameters. We find that all syntactic networks of Chinese L2 learners (English native speakers) initially present scale-free and small-world properties. Additionally, there is no sudden syntactic emergence in interlanguage with different modalities. This suggests varying regularities in the development of a syntactic network between interlanguage and native language acquisition. Moreover, the first language plays an important role in L2 development. The network parameters (),L, C, ND, andNCcan differentiate interlanguage modalities, and five quantitative parameters, ,C, ND, γ′, andNC, can indicate L2 proficiency.
Systematic Review on the Impact of Conditional Cash Transfers on Child Health Service Utilisation and Child Health in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Onwuchekwa Chukwuemeka , Verdonck Kristien , Marchal Bruno
Published: July 2021

Background: Conditional cash transfers (CCTs) are interventions which provide assistance in the form of cash to specific vulnerable groups on the condition that they meet pre-defined requirements. The impact of conditional cash transfers on children's access to health services and on their overall health has not been established in sub-Saharan Africa.

Method: We conducted a systematic review aimed at summarising the available information on the impact of conditional cash transfers on health service utilisation and child health in sub-Saharan Africa. We searched databases for peer-reviewed articles, websites of organisations involved in implementing conditional cash transfer programmes, and Google scholar to identify grey literature. Records were selected based on predefined eligibility criteria which were drawn from a programme impact framework. Records were eligible if one of the following outcomes was evaluated: health services utilisation, immunisation coverage, growth monitoring, anthropometry, illness reported, and mortality. Other records which reported on important intermediate outcomes or described mechanisms significantly contributing to impact were also included in the review. Data items were extracted from eligible records into an extraction form based on predefined data items. Study quality indicators were also extracted into a quality assessment form.

Results: Thematic narrative synthesis was conducted using data from nine included records. The review included five cluster randomised evaluations, one quasi-experimental clustered study, one randomised trial at the individual level, one mixed-method study and one purely qualitative study. There was insufficient evidence of an impact of conditional cash transfers on health service utilisation. There was also not enough evidence of an impact on nutritional status. No impact was observed on health status based on illness reports, nor on immunisation rates. None of the included records evaluated the impact on childhood mortality.

Conclusions: The findings of this review suggest that a positive impact may be observed in health service utilisation and nutrition, however, this may not translate into improved child health. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and pathways by which these interventions work, explore the effect of contextual factors on their impact, and assess their cost implication especially within resource-constrained settings.
Plandemic Revisited: A Product of Planned Disinformation Amplifying the COVID-19 “infodemic”
Authors: Nazar Shahin , Pieters Toine
Published: July 2021

During the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, a 26-min documentary entitledPlandemicwas released online and fanatically sharedviaTwitter and other major social media platforms. The producers of the documentary sought to spread misinformation and conspiracy theories and to discredit scientific experts using a sophisticated disinformation campaign. They set out to accomplish this by coaching citizens toward activism to maximize the speed at which the documentary propagated and decrease positive sentiments toward public health interventions. Applying techniques from social network analysis in conjunction with a formative content analysis of Twitter data, we examined the effectiveness of thePlandemicdisinformation campaign as a case study of social engineering during the COVID-19 pandemic. By comparing the Twitter network's community structure and communication patterns before and after the release of the film, we demonstrate thePlandemiccampaign to have been effective for two reasons. First, the campaign established a decentralized information sharing network on Twitter by coaching low-reach social media users to mass share the documentary, effectively subverting efforts to gatekeep its misinformation. Second, the campaign amplified negative sentiments regarding vaccination and containment measures among conspiracy theorists. These effects possibly have an indirect impact on the public's willingness to comply with public health measures. Our results show the necessity of further research about sophisticated social experiments such as thePlandemicdisinformation campaign and provide important insights for policy-making to combat the spread of health misinformation during public health crises.
Estimated Dissemination Ratio—A Practical Alternative to the Reproduction Number for Infectious Diseases
Authors: Pérez-Reche Francisco J. , Taylor Nick , McGuigan Chris , Conaglen Philip , Forbes Ken J. , Strachan Norval J. C. , Honhold Naomi
Published: July 2021

Policymakers require consistent and accessible tools to monitor the progress of an epidemic and the impact of control measures in real time. One such measure is the Estimated Dissemination Ratio (EDR), a straightforward, easily replicable, and robust measure of the trajectory of an outbreak that has been used for many years in the control of infectious disease in livestock. It is simple to calculate and explain. Its calculation and use are discussed below together with examples from the current COVID-19 outbreak in the UK. These applications illustrate that EDR can demonstrate changes in transmission rate before they may be clear from the epidemic curve. Thus, EDR can provide an early warning that an epidemic is resuming growth, allowing earlier intervention. A conceptual comparison between EDR and the commonly used reproduction number is also provided.
Institutional Capacity for Science Diplomacy in Central America
Authors: Jarquin-Solis Maria Esteli , Mauduit Jean-Christophe
Published: July 2021

Science, technology, and innovation (STI) is increasingly gaining in importance on the foreign policy agenda of governments worldwide. However, the implementation of science diplomacy strategies requires STI institutional capacity and strong interfaces with policy and diplomacy. This research first maps the STI public institutions of the six member countries of the Central American Integration System (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama) and then draws their capacity to connect internationally in order to highlight their potential for science diplomacy. Variables such as the year of creation and mandates of scientific councils, secretariats, national academies, international cooperation departments and ministries are analyzed. The study reveals several public management challenges stemming from the institutional disparity and complexity of the region, already marked by significant asymmetries of human development between the various countries. Highlighting and understanding such challenges may be helpful for countries in the region in developing meaningful strategies around science diplomacy.
Computer- Assessment of Attention and Memory Utilizing Ecologically Valid Distractions: A Scoping Review
Authors: Pinnow DeAnna , Hubbard H. Isabel , Meulenbroek Peter A.
Published: July 2021

Introduction: Deficits in the cognitive domains of attention and memory leave a large impact on everyday activities that are not easily captured in the clinical environment. Therefore, clinicians are compelled to utilize assessment tools that elicit everyday functioning that include real-world contexts and distractions. As a result, the use of computer-assisted assessment has emerged as a tool for capturing everyday functioning in a variety of environments. The purpose of this scoping review is to map how virtual reality, augmented reality, and computer-based programs have implemented distractions for clinical populations.

Methods: A scoping review of peer reviewed publications was conducted by searching Pubmed, PsychInfo, Web of Science, Rehabdata, and Scopus databases (1960-October 20, 2020). Authors completed hand-searches for additional published and unpublished studies.

Results: Of 616 titles screened, 23 articles met inclusion criteria to include in this review. Primary distraction display modalities included computer monitor displays (n = 12) and head mounted displays (HMD) (n = 7). While computer-assisted assessments included distractions, no systematic approach was utilized to implement them. Primary distractions included both auditory and visual stimuli that were relevant to the task and/or simulated environment. Additional distraction characteristics emerged including location, timing, and intensity that can contribute to overall noticeability.

Conclusion: From this review, the authors examined the literature on the implementation of distractions in simulated programming. The authors make recommendations regarding identification, measurement, and programming with suggestions that future studies examining metrics of attention to implement distraction in measurable and meaningful ways. Further, the authors propose that distraction does not universally impact performance negatively but can also enhance performance for clinical populations (e.g. additional sensory stimuli to support focused attention).
El fértil campo psicoanalítico
Authors: Anguera Domenjó Blanca
Published: July 2021

En primer lugar este artículo se propone recordar los aspectos centrales construidos por el creador del psicoanálisis y luego, narrar brevemente algunas de las aportaciones que ha proporcionado este modelo en el campo de la psicoterapia y la asistencia sanitaria después de la existencia de S. Freud.
Algunas consideraciones sobre la clínica hoy
Authors: Soriano Sala Asunción
Published: July 2021

Este artículo presenta una reflexión, en relación a los 150 años del nacimiento de Freud. Sobre algunas de las posibilidades de la práctica clínica actual, que partiendo de los postulados psicoanalíticos, ha ido evolucionando y adaptándose a la realidad de los pacientes y sobretodo a la diversidad psicopatológica que acude a la red pública de salud. Destaca la importancia y la dificultad del dialogo científico entre diferentes áreas, que estudian la realidad psíquica y del largo camino que queda por recorrer para establecer los puentes necesarios entre mente y cerebro. Se centra en un caso clínico a través del que, se muestra un tipo de dialogo psicoterapéutico, y se van comentando los conceptos psicoanalíticos en los que se basan las diferentes intervenciones o actitudes del terapeuta. Se trata de una chica con un trastorno antisocial de la personalidad, delincuente y con historia de abuso de tóxicos. Finalmente plantea la necesidad en la patología grave, de tratamientos multimodales, que aborden coordinadamente las diferentes necesidades del paciente y en ese marco de trabajo es donde la aportación de la terapia psicoanalítica es fundamental.