bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Graph signal processing and recurrence quantification techniques for the analysis of biomedical signal ensembles
Authors: Πεντάρη Αναστασία
Published: August 2022

Η διατριβή με τίτλο “Επεξεργασία σήματος μέσω γράφων και ποσοτικές αναδρομικές τεχνικές για την ανάλυση συνόλων βιοσημάτων” αποτελείται από τρία διαφορετικά τμήματα: Το πρώτο κομμάτι αφορά την εφαρμογή της θεωρίας επεξεργασίας σήματος μέσω γράφων σε σήματα ηλεκτροεγκεφαλογραφήματος (ΗΕΓ) με στόχο την αποθορυβοποίηση των ΗΕΓ από κρουστικό θόρυβο. Είναι γνωστό ότι τα ΗΕΓ επηρεάζονται από κρουστικό θόρυβο που μπορεί να οδηγήσει σε λανθασμένες κλινικές διαγνώσεις. Ο κρουστικός θόρυβος μπορεί να μοντελοποιηθεί μέσω της οικογένειας των αλφα-ευσταθών κατανομών. Σχεδιάσαμε και υλοποιήσαμε ένα γραφο-φίλτρο βασισμένο σε στατιστικές ροπές χαμηλής τάξης και προσαρμοσμένο σε κρουστικό θόρυβο, το οποίο μπορεί να μειώσει αποτελεσματικά θόρυβο προερχόμενο από τις κινήσεις του κεφαλιού ή το περιβάλλον.Το δεύτερο κομμάτι αφορά την μη-γραμμική δυναμική ανάλυση χρονοσειρών καταγεγραμμένων από την λειτουργική μαγνητική τομογραφία σε κατάσταση ηρεμίας. Ο ανθρώπινος εγκέφαλος έχει μία πολύ δυναμική φύση, επομένως η ανθρώπινη εγκεφαλική λειτουργία πρέπει να αναλύεται με τρόπο δυναμικό και προσαρμοστικό. Εφαρμόσαμε την αναδρομική ποσοτική ανάλυση ζευγών, μία μαθηματική μέθοδο που εκμεταλλεύεται τους πίνακες αναδρομής και διά μέσου της ποσοτικής ανάλυσής τους εξάγει συγκεκριμένα χαρακτηριστικά που περιγράφουν την δυναμική συμπεριφορά ενός συστήματος. Δείξαμε ότι η μέθοδος αυτή είναι ευαίσθητη στο να αναγνωρίζει περισσότερες συνδέσεις εγκεφαλικών περιοχών που διαφοροποιούν τους ασθενείς με νευροψυχιατρικό συστημικό ερυθηματώδη λύκο από τους υγιείς, σε σχέση με προηγούμενες μελέτες. Επιπλέον, η επεκτείναμε τη μέθοδο μέσω της δημιουργίας δικτύων εγκεφάλου εφαρμόζοντας ένα γραμμικό συνδυασμό των δυναμικών χαρακτηριστικών. Η ανάλυση των δικτύων αυτών πραγματοποιήθηκε μέσω της γνωστής γραφοθεωρίας του “μικρού-κόσμου” και οδήγησε σε υψηλά ποσοστά κατηγοριοποίησης.Τέλος, στα πλαίσια της διατριβής αυτής, ασχοληθήκαμε και με την μείωση του χρόνου εξέτασης της τεχνικής σταθμισμένης διάχυσης του μαγνητικού τομογράφου. Η σταθμισμένη διάχυση μαγνητικού τομογράφου είναι μία μη επεμβατική μέθοδος εξέτασης μικρο-αρχιτεκτονικής των ανθρώπινων οργάνων η οποία, ανάλογα με το όργανο, μπορεί να έχει μακρά διάρκεια. Κατά συνέπεια, στοχεύσαμε στην επιτάχυνση του χρόνου εξέτασης για τη μείωση της δυσφορίας των ασθενών εντός του μαγνητικού τομογράφου. Η πιο σημαντική παράμετρος της τεχνικής αυτής είναι η λεγόμενη b-τιμή. Σχεδιάσαμε έναν αλγόριθμο βασισμένο στη μέθοδο των αραιών αναπαραστάσεων, για να δειγματοληπτήσουμε ένα περιορισμένο αριθμό από b-τιμές ανακατασκευάζοντας τις υπόλοιπες μέσω εκπαιδευμένων λεξικών. Η αξιολόγηση πραγματοποιήθηκε σε πραγματικά δεδομένα απεικονίσεων του παγκρέατος και αποδείχθηκε πολλά υποσχόμενη.
Studies on the ethnopharmacology, antimicrobial activity, and toxicity of Catha edulis (Vahl.) Endl., in Sprague Dawley rats
Authors: Githua Kevin Kariuki , Maitho Timothy Elias , Nguta Joseph Mwanzia , Okumu Mitchel Otieno
Published: August 2022

Background: The Mbeere South community of Embu County consume leaves of Catha edulis for its stimulant and euphoretic actions. Other indigenous uses of the plant are undocumented. Information on the pharmacology and safety of this plant is also scanty. This study aimed to document the ethnopharmacology, antimicrobial properties, and toxicity of C. edulis leaves collected from the Mbeere South community in Kenya.

Methods: Ethnopharmacological data was collected from 35 informants using semi-structured questionnaires. Leaf extracts of C. edulis were prepared using acetone, water, and methanol. The antimicrobial properties of these extracts were evaluated against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. The toxicity of the aqueous extract was determined using hematological, biochemical, and histopathological parameters in male and female Sprague Dawley rats at 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg doses over 28 days. p<0.05 was considered significant.

Results: All informants were male, most were married, >50 years old, with >10 years of experience. The sources, local names, preparation, storage conditions, indications, frequency of use, dosage, and side effects of C. edulis were documented. All extracts were ineffective against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans. They had limited efficacy against B. cereus and S. aureus. Significant differences were observed in the hematological and biochemical parameters of rats at the tested doses. Low, intermediate, and high doses of the aqueous extract of C. edulis produced local congestion of the cardiac and hepatic vessels. Localized interstitial connective tissue proliferation, multifocal kidney interstitial hemorrhage, and localized tubular epithelium necrosis were also observed in female rats.

Conclusions: The ethnobotanical uses of C. edulis among the Mbeere South community were documented for the first time. Limited antimicrobial efficacy and toxicity at high doses limit the use of leaves of C. edulis.
Peccary, a metaprogramming open-source R platform to improve pharmacometrics efficiency
Authors: Derippe Thibaud , Declèves Xavier , Fouliard Sylvain
Published: August 2022

Background:A pharmacometrics (PMx) workflow usually requires several software tools to cover all the steps from data analysis to model evaluation and simulations. However, these tools do not always communicate well together, compromising the efficiency of the whole process. Highly inspired by the markdown/pandoc system, we developed Peccary, an R package and its dedicated Shiny Application with the objective to accelerate the use of previously released R packages through various translation and metaprogramming processes. 

Methods:Peccary was developed with an agile method, progressively aggregating snippets of R code produced during real-life pharmacometrics works.  Its first subpackage, PeccAnalysis, can be used to produce and evaluate various R code for population description (using table1 package), plot exploration (ggplot) and non-compartment analysis (pknca). The second subpackage, PeccaReverse, allows writing a structural model using a minimalist (simplified deSolve) syntax, before metaprogramming model simulations (using either deSolve or RxODE) and design evaluation (through PopED), along with performing various model syntax translations (e.g., into NONMEM, Monolix or nlmixr files). Finally, the third subpackage, PeccaResult, standardizes run outputs of several PMx software (NONMEM, Monolix, Adapt, nlmixr) to perform various diagnostic evaluation tasks. 

Results:The metaprogramming system used in PeccAnalysis and PeccaReverse has many advantages. First, it simplifies the use of previously mentioned packages (by reducing the required knowledge and the time needed to program the output creation). Second, it creates links between independent tools (for instance using the same inputs for several tasks). Third, the produced R code can be reviewed for eventual manual modification, verification (quality control) or traceable report integration. 

Conclusion:Overall, Peccary was successful in improving PMx efficiency by providing a Shiny R platform that can produce various outputs during live meetings while keeping the possibility to extract Peccary-independent R source code for further in-depth control.
Impact of evening carbohydrate intake on the resolution of persistent night sweats in patients with long COVID: a case series
Authors: Garcia-Quintanilla Albert , Rivera-Izquierdo Mario , Garcia-Quintanilla Meritxell
Published: August 2022

Up to 25% of patients with long COVID experience persistent night sweats. However, in most cases they remain untreated until they disappear on their own. Since SARS-CoV-2 is known to disrupt glucose homeostasis, we hypothesized that impaired mitochondria would result in faster glycogen depletion at night due to reduced ATP production yield, inducing adrenaline production ultimately leading to the onset of persistent night sweats. To test our hypothesis we investigated whether incorporating carbohydrates into the diet of three non-diabetic patients with long COVID before bedtime would have any effect decreasing their night sweats. Remarkably, after one week with the dietary intervention, the patients reported that their night sweats had completely disappeared. Therefore, we propose carbohydrate supplementation as an affordable solution for night sweats in long COVID patients.
Need for long term safety studies before recommending viral vector vaccines in kids
Authors: Omer Hakim Muhammad , Zain Azhar Muhammad , Patel Urvish , Chahar Satya , Gupta Ruby , Samala Venkata Vikramaditya , Kukreja Geetika , Patil Ashish
Published: August 2022

Vaccines have played a central role in dealing with COVID-19 pandemic. Now regulatory agencies in USA and around the world have begun approving vaccination for kids. Long term safety profile of live attenuated viral vaccines, inactivated viral vaccines and peptide-based vaccines are well studied in children, are safe and can play a central role in controlling the spread of COVID19 in children. But the long-term safety profile of viral vector-based vaccines is not studied. In the present correspondence we highlight the possibility of random insertional mutagenesis and potential side effects, which might be evident after long-term.  Regulators must take into consideration the possibility of insertional mutagenesis and conduct long term studies before approving the viral vector vaccines in children, so that the public have trust in the regulatory agencies and are compliant towards vaccinating their children with safe and effective vaccines.
Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis as an indicator of malnutrition in children under five years with and without pneumonia in Mchinji District, Malawi: An exploratory mixed-methods analysis
Authors: Dunning Hanna , Zadutsa Beatiwel , Kainja Esther , Colbourn Tim , McCollum Eric D. , Makwenda Charles , Wells Jonathan , Grijalva-Eternod Carlos S. , King Carina
Published: August 2022

Background: Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) is a non-invasive assessment of body composition and cellular health, which may improve the assessment of nutritional status in sick children. We explored the reliability, clinical utility, and acceptability of BIVA, as an indicator of nutritional status for children under five years with and without pneumonia, in Malawi.

Methods: We conducted a parallel convergent mixed-methods exploratory study in Mchinji District Hospital, Malawi, in 2017. We planned to recruit a convenience sample of children aged 0-59 months with clinical pneumonia, and without an acute illness. Children had duplicate anthropometric and BIVA measurements taken. BIVA measurements of phase angle (PA) were taken of the whole body, and trunk and arm segments. Reliability was assessed by comparing the variability in the two measures, and clinical utility by estimating the association between anthropometry and PA using linear regression. Focus group discussions with healthcare workers who had not previously used BIVA instrumentation were conducted to explore acceptability.

Results: A total of 52 children (24 with pneumonia and 28 healthy) were analysed. The reliability of sequential PA measurements was lower than anthropometric measurements, but trunk and arm segments performed better. The largest associations with PA were a negative relationship with weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) and PA in children with pneumonia in the trunk segment, and a positive association with WAZ in the full body measurement in healthy children. Healthcare workers in focus group discussions expressed trust in BIVA technology and that it would enable more accurate diagnosis of malnutrition; however, they raised concerns about the sustainability and necessary resources to implement BIVA. 

Conclusions: While healthcare workers were positive towards BIVA as a novel technology, implementation challenges should be expected. The differential direction of association between anthropometry and PA for children with pneumonia warrants further investigation.
Mapping research on the social impact of the arts: what characterises the field?
Authors: Lindström Sol Sofia , Gustrén Cia , Nelhans Gustaf , Eklund Johan , Johannisson Jenny , Blomgren Roger
Published: August 2022

This article explores the broad and undefined research field of the social impact of the arts. The effects of art and culture are often used as justification for public funding, but the research on these interventions and their effects is unclear. Using a co-word analysis of over 10,000 articles published between 1990 and 2020, we examined the characteristics of the field as we have operationalised it through our searches. We found that since 2015 this research field has expanded and consists of different epistemologies and methodologies, summarised in largely overlapping subfields belonging to the social sciences, humanities, arts education, and arts and health/therapy. In formal or informal learning settings, studies of theatre/drama as an intervention to enhance skills, well-being, or knowledge among children are most common in our corpus. A study of the research front through the bibliographic coupling of the most cited articles in the corpus confirmed the co-word analysis and revealed new themes that together form the ground for insight into research on the social impact of the arts. This article can therefore inform discussions on the social value of culture and the arts.
The Ultimate Self-Awareness
Authors: Salay Hemdat
Published: August 2022

Śiva’s sense of self is ever-evolving, ever-changing. His selfawareness is in constant motion, expanding and contracting in its many manifestations. The movement is circular. It forms Śiva’s life cycle which is structured and bound to an internal dynamic based on a tensile balance between the reflexive and reflective modes of the god. The following article examines this dynamic, sketches the structure of the life cycle as it appears in the Kālavadha Kāvya of Kṛṣṇalīlāśuka, and aims to shed new light on the vibrant sense of Śiva’s self.
Kārtikā Tirunāḻ Bālarāma Varma’s Self-portrait in Bālarāmabharata
Authors: Wójcik Agnieszka
Published: August 2022

Kārtikā Tirunāḷ Bālarāma Varma (r. 1758–1798) was the ruler of the South Indian state of Travancore and the author of a Sanskrit treatise on theatrology, the Bālarāmabharata. His reign constituted an important period of patronage of arts and literature, especially in the field of performing arts. The king was not only an outstanding patron but also an eminent scholar and an accomplished author. As the evidence of this great variety of roles, the paper proposes to analyse the opening passages of the Bālarāmabharata where Kārtikā Tirunāḷ Bālarāma Varma presents himself in a self-portrait of sorts: as a ruler, patron, scholar and poet. He inscribes himself in the patronage tradition of the rulers of Travancore as well as in the line of the continuators of Bharata’s Nāṭyaśāstra while simultaneously showcasing his literary prowess and practical experience in the contemporary tradition of performing arts.
History, Myth, and Maṭam in Southeast Indian Portraits
Authors: Seastrand Anna Lise
Published: August 2022

Portraiture emerged as a major interest in literature, sculpture, and painting in early modern southeastern India. While this may, on one hand, reflect an interest in historical documentation, it is also indicative of the wider significance of mimetic representation across the arts. Pursuing one avenue of implication, this essay elucidates the relationship between historical, mythic, and ideal representations of unique individuals through portraiture, focusing on the murals at the great temple of Citamparam.
Role of the teenage and young adult blood and marrow stem-cell transplant clinical nurse specialist
Authors: Thistlethwayte Emma
Published: August 2022

This article explores the role of the teenage and young adult (TYA) blood and marrow stem-cell transplant clinical nurse specialist (CNS) from the author's perspective, and the challenges of developing a novel role. The article aims to provide insight into the role, and review the benefits of the CNS to patient care, thus highlighting the value of developing such a role within other stem-cell transplant centres in the UK.
Past cases provide basis to improve patient safety education and training
Authors: Tingle John
Published: August 2022

John Tingle, Lecturer in Law, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham, discusses several recent patient safety reports
The influence zone: a critical performance measure for negative pressure wound therapy systems
Authors: Gefen Amit
Published: August 2022

This article provides an introduction to the theory of, what is termed, the ‘influence zone’ in the context of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). It is a quantitative bioengineering performance measure for NPWT systems, to indicate their effectiveness, namely, how far from the wound bed edges a specific system is able to deliver effective mechano-stimulation into the periwound, and at which intensity. The influence zone therefore provides objective and standardised metrics of one of the fundamental modes of action of NPWT systems: the ability to effectively and optimally deform both the wound and periwound macroscopically and microscopically. Most important is the mechanical deformation of the periwound area to activate cells responsible for tissue repair, particularly (myo)fibroblasts. Notably, the influence zone must extend sufficiently into the periwound to stimulate (myo)fibroblasts in order that they migrate and progress the wound healing process, facilitating the formation of scar tissue, without overstretching the periwound tissues so as not cause or escalate further cell and tissue damage. The inclusion of the influence zone theory within research to investigate the efficacy of NPWT systems facilitates systematic comparisons of commercially available and potentially new systems. This approach has the capacity to guide not only research and development work, but also clinical decision-making. Recently published research found that inducing an effective influence zone first and foremost requires continuous delivery of the intended pressure to the wound bed.
Bionic vision autofocus method based on a liquid lens
Authors: Liu Zhaoyang , Hong Huajie , Gan Zihao , Xing Kunsheng
Published: August 2022

Digital imaging systems (DISs) have been widely used in industrial process control, field monitoring, and other domains, and the autofocusing capability of DISs is a key factor affecting the imaging quality and intelligence of the system. In view of the deficiencies of focusing accuracy and speed in current imaging systems, this paper proposes a fast autofocus method of bionic vision on the basis of the liquid lens. First, the sharpness recognition network and sharpness comparison network are designed based on the consideration of a human visual focusing mechanism. Then a sharpness evaluation function combined with the distance-aware algorithm and an adaptive focusing search algorithm are proposed. These lead to the construction of our proposed autofocus method with the introduction of the memory mechanism. In order to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, an experimental platform based on a liquid lens is built to test its performance. Experiment confirms that the proposed autofocus method has obvious advantages in robustness, accuracy, and speed compared with traditional methods.
Optical multi-trapping by Kinoform m-Bonacci lenses
Authors: Muñoz-Pérez Francisco M. , Ferrando Vicente , Furlan Walter D. , Monsoriu Juan A. , Ricardo Arias-Gonzalez J.
Published: August 2022

Optical manipulation is interfacing disciplines in the micro and nanoscale, from molecular biology to quantum computation. Versatile solutions for increasingly more sophisticated technological applications require multiple traps with which to maneuver dynamically several particles in three dimensions. The axial direction is usually overlooked due to difficulties in observing particles away from an objective-lens focal plane, a normal element in optical tweezers, and in managing interparticle distances along the trapping beam propagating direction, where strong radiation pressure and shadowing effects compromise the simultaneous and stable confinement of the particles. Here, aperiodic kinoform diffractive lens based on the m-Bonacci sequence are proposed as a new trapping strategy. This lens provides split first-order diffractive foci whose separation depends on the generalized m-golden ratio. We show the extended manipulation capabilities of a laser tweezers system generated by these lens, in which concomitant trapping of particles in different focal planes takes place. Positioning particles in the axial direction with computer-controlled distances allows dynamic three-dimensional all-optical lattices, useful in a variety of microscale and nanoscale applications.
Phase-only hologram generated by a convolutional neural network trained using low-frequency mixed noise
Authors: Wang Xi , Liu Xinlei , Jing Tao , Li Pei , Jiang Xiaoyu , Liu Qiang , Yan Xingpeng
Published: August 2022

A phase-only hologram generated through the convolution neutral network (CNN) which is trained by the low-frequency mixed noise (LFMN) is proposed. Compared with CNN based computer-generated holograms, the proposed training dataset named LFMN includes different kinds of noise images after low-frequency processing. This dataset was used to replace the real images used in the conventional hologram to train CNN in a simple and flexible approach. The results revealed that the proposed method could generate a hologram of 2160 × 3840 pixels at a speed of 0.094 s/frame on the DIV2K valid dataset, and the average peak signal-to-noise ratio of the reconstruction was approximately 29.2 dB. The results of optical experiments validated the theoretical prediction. The reconstructed images obtained using the proposed method exhibited higher quality than those obtained using the conventional methods. Furthermore, the proposed method considerably mitigated artifacts of the reconstructed images.
Optical properties of mixed black and brown carbon aerosols
Authors: Zhu Sihong , Zhang Hua , Zhou Chen , Wei Xiaodong , Liu Yi
Published: August 2022

Based on actual atmospheric observations of internal mixing of light-absorbing brown carbon (BrC)-coated black carbon (BC), the optical properties of mixed black and brown carbon aerosols (BBC) were calculated using four mixing models (external mixing, core–shell, Bruggeman, and Maxwell-Garnett models), and changes in their optical properties with wavelength were compared and analyzed. Under the assumption of different volumetric mixing ratios (VR=VBC/VBBC), there is little difference in volumetric absorptive coefficient (Kab) of BBC in these models in the ultraviolet band where both BC and BrC have strong absorption, particularly in the ultraviolet A band. In visible and near-infrared bands, the three internal mixing models significantly reduce the single scattering albedo compared to the external mixing scenario. In addition, the widely used core–shell model was used to evaluate the effects of BrC shell thickness and environmental relative humidity (RH) on the optical properties of BBC. The impacts of these factors are mainly seen in ultraviolet and visible bands. The volumetric extinction coefficient (Kex) decreases with BrC shell thickness under a fixed BC core radius (0.12 µm) in these bands. This is because the radiation reaching the surface of BC particles is reduced under the absorption of less efficient BrC shells (known as the blocking effect), which is different from the BC and light-scattering aerosols internal mixing scenario. Moreover, the Kex and Kab of BBC decrease with RH, which is mainly due to both the increasing thickness of the BrC shell and the change in the complex refractive index of the BrC shell. Based on the assumptions of unchanged BC core parameters and actual observations, the extinction ability increases when BrC particles are more light-scattering in the ultraviolet and visible bands. The increase in extinction is mainly from scattering, rather than absorption. However, the situation is the opposite in the near-infrared band.
Chiral Zener tunneling in non-Hermitian frequency lattices
Authors: Zheng Lingzhi , Wang Bing , Qin Chengzhi , Zhao Lange , Chen Shuyue , Liu Weiwei , Lu Peixiang
Published: August 2022

A waveguide coupler under both phase and intensity modulation is proposed to generate a non-Hermitian Su–Schrieffer–Heeger lattice in frequency dimension. By varying the modulation period and phase, we can manipulate the on-site potential of the lattice and realize anisotropic coupling of the supermodes in waveguides. The artificial electric field associated with the modulation phase can also be introduced simultaneously. Zener tunneling is demonstrated in the non-Hermitian system and manifests an irreversibly unidirectional conversion between odd and even supermodes. The conversion efficiency can be optimized by varying the on-site potential of the waveguides. The study provides a versatile platform to explore non-Hermitian multiband physics in synthetic dimensions, which may find great application in chiral mode converters and couplers.
Control of division in Chlamydomonas by cyclin B/CDKB1 and the anaphase-promoting complex
Authors: Pecani Kresti , Lieberman Kristi , Tajima-Shirasaki Natsumi , Onishi Masayuki , Cross Frederick R.
Published: August 2022

In yeast and animals, cyclin B binds and activates the cyclin-dependent kinase (‘CDK’) CDK1 to drive entry into mitosis. We show that CYCB1, the sole cyclin B in Chlamydomonas, activates the plant-specific CDKB1 rather than the CDK1 ortholog CDKA1, confirming and extending previous results. Time-lapse microscopy shows that CYCB1 is synthesized before each division in the multiple fission cycle, then is rapidly degraded 3–5 minutes before division occurs. CYCB1 degradation is dependent on the anaphase-promoting complex (APC). Like CYCB1, CDKB1 is not synthesized until late G1; however, CDKB1 is not degraded with each division within the multiple fission cycle, but is degraded after all divisions have ceased. The microtubule plus-end-binding protein EB1 labeled with mNeonGreen allowed detection of mitotic events in live cells. The earliest detectable step in mitosis, splitting of polar EB1 signal into two foci, likely associated with future spindle poles, was dependent on CYCB1. CYCB1-GFP localized close to these foci immediately before spindle formation. Spindle breakdown, cleavage furrow formation and accumulation of EB1 in the furrow were dependent on the APC. In interphase, rapidly growing microtubules are marked by ‘comets’ of EB1; comets are absent in the absence of APC function. Thus CYCB1/CDKB1 and the APC modulate microtubule function and assembly while regulating mitotic progression. Genetic results suggest an independent additional role for the APC in regulating sister chromatid cohesion; this role is likely conserved across eukaryotes.
SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in three Kenyan health and demographic surveillance sites, December 2020-May 2021
Authors: Etyang Anthony O. , Adetifa Ifedayo , Omore Richard , Misore Thomas , Ziraba Abdhalah K. , Ng’oda Maurine A. , Gitau Evelyn , Gitonga John , Mugo Daisy , Kutima Bernadette , Karanja Henry , Toroitich Monica , Nyagwange James , Tuju James , Wanjiku Perpetual , Aman Rashid , Amoth Patrick , Mwangangi Mercy , Kasera Kadondi , Ng’ang’a Wangari , Akech Donald , Sigilai Antipa , Karia Boniface , Karani Angela , Voller Shirine , Agoti Charles N. , Ochola-Oyier Lynette I. , Otiende Mark , Bottomley Christian , Nyaguara Amek , Uyoga Sophie , Gallagher Katherine , Kagucia Eunice W. , Onyango Dickens , Tsofa Benjamin , Mwangangi Joseph , Maitha Eric , Barasa Edwine , Bejon Philip , Warimwe George M. , Scott J. Anthony G. , Agweyu Ambrose
Published: August 2022

Background

Most of the studies that have informed the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya have relied on samples that are not representative of the general population. We conducted population-based serosurveys at three Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSSs) to determine the cumulative incidence of infection with SARS-CoV-2.

Methods

We selected random age-stratified population-based samples at HDSSs in Kisumu, Nairobi and Kilifi, in Kenya. Blood samples were collected from participants between 01 Dec 2020 and 27 May 2021. No participant had received a COVID-19 vaccine. We tested for IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using ELISA. Locally-validated assay sensitivity and specificity were 93% (95% CI 88–96%) and 99% (95% CI 98–99.5%), respectively. We adjusted prevalence estimates using classical methods and Bayesian modelling to account for the sampling scheme and assay performance.

Results

We recruited 2,559 individuals from the three HDSS sites, median age (IQR) 27 (10–78) years and 52% were female. Seroprevalence at all three sites rose steadily during the study period. In Kisumu, Nairobi and Kilifi, seroprevalences (95% CI) at the beginning of the study were 36.0% (28.2–44.4%), 32.4% (23.1–42.4%), and 14.5% (9.1–21%), and respectively; at the end they were 42.0% (34.7–50.0%), 50.2% (39.7–61.1%), and 24.7% (17.5–32.6%), respectively. Seroprevalence was substantially lower among children (<16 years) than among adults at all three sites (p≤0.001).

Conclusion

By May 2021 in three broadly representative populations of unvaccinated individuals in Kenya, seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was 25–50%. There was wide variation in cumulative incidence by location and age.
Chronic sequelae complicate convalescence from both dengue and acute viral respiratory illness
Authors: Kalimuddin Shirin , Teh Yii Ean , Wee Liang En , Paintal Shay , Sasisekharan Ram , Low Jenny G. , Sheth Sujata K. , Ooi Eng Eong
Published: August 2022

Long Covid has raised awareness of the potentially disabling chronic sequelae that afflicts patients after acute viral infection. Similar syndromes of post-infectious sequelae have also been observed after other viral infections such as dengue, but their true prevalence and functional impact remain poorly defined. We prospectively enrolled 209 patients with acute dengue (n = 48; one with severe dengue) and other acute viral respiratory infections (ARI) (n = 161), and followed them up for chronic sequelae up to one year post-enrolment, prior to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Baseline demographics and co-morbidities were balanced between both groups except for gender, with more males in the dengue cohort (63% vs 29%, p<0.001). Except for the first visit, data on symptoms were collected remotely using a purpose-built mobile phone application. Mental health outcomes were evaluated using the validated SF-12v2 Health Survey. Almost all patients (95.8% of dengue and 94.4% of ARI patients) experienced at least one symptom of fatigue, somnolence, headache, concentration impairment or memory impairment within the first week of enrolment. Amongst patients with at least 3-months of follow-up, 18.0% in the dengue cohort and 14.6% in the ARI cohort experienced persistent symptoms. The median month-3 SF-12v2 Mental Component Summary Score was lower in patients who remained symptomatic at 3 months and beyond, compared to those whose symptoms fully resolved (47.7 vs. 56.0, p<0.001), indicating that patients who self-reported persistence of symptoms also experienced functionally worse mental health. No statistically significant difference in age, gender distribution or hospitalisation status was observed between those with and without chronic sequelae. Our findings reveal an under-appreciated burden of post-infection chronic sequelae in dengue and ARI patients. They call for studies to define the pathophysiology of this condition, and determine the efficacy of both vaccines as well as antiviral drugs in preventing such sequelae.
Histological characterization of anther structure in Tetep-cytoplasmic male sterility and fine mapping of restorer-of-fertility gene in rice
Authors: Lee Seung Young , Jin Zhuo , Jang Su , Kim Backki , Seo Jeonghwan , Koh Hee-Jong
Published: August 2022

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a maternally inherited trait that inhibits plants from producing or releasing viable pollen. CMS is caused by mitochondrial–nuclear interaction, and can be rescued by introducing functional nuclear restorer-of-fertility (Rf) gene. The Tetep-CMS/Rf lines were developed through successive inter-subspecific backcrosses between indica and japonica rice accessions. Phenotypic characterization of Tetep-CMS lines revealed abnormal anther dehiscence and the inability to release, while possessing functional pollen. Transverse sections of developing anthers collected from CMS plants showed connective tissue deformities and aberrant dehydration of endothecium and epidermis. Fine mapping of Rf-Tetep using a series of segregating populations, delimited the candidate region to an approximately 109 kb genomic interval between M2099 and FM07 flanking markers. Nanopore long-read sequencing and genome assembly, proceeded by gene prediction and annotation revealed 11 open reading frames (ORFs) within the candidate region, and suggest ORF6 annotated as pentatricopeptide repeat motif containing gene 1 (PPR1), as a possible candidate gene responsible for fertility restoration. This study suggests that tissue-specific abnormalities in anthers are responsible for indehiscence-based sterility, and propose that the functional Rf gene is derived from allelic variation between inter-subspecies in rice.
Acyloxyacyl hydrolase regulates microglia-mediated pelvic pain
Authors: Rahman-Enyart Afrida , Yaggie Ryan E. , Bollinger Justin L. , Arvanitis Constadina , Winter Deborah R. , Schaeffer Anthony J. , Klumpp David J.
Published: August 2022

Chronic pelvic pain conditions such as interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) remain clinical and mechanistic enigmas. Microglia are resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) that respond to changes in the gut microbiome, and studies have linked microglial activation to acute and chronic pain in a variety of models, including pelvic pain. We have previously reported that mice deficient for the lipase acyloxyacyl hydrolase (AOAH) develop pelvic allodynia and exhibit symptoms, comorbidities, and gut dysbiosis mimicking IC/BPS. Here, we assessed the role of AOAH in microglial activation and pelvic pain. RNAseq analyses using the ARCHS4 database and confocal microscopy revealed that AOAH is highly expressed in wild type microglia but at low levels in astrocytes, suggesting a functional role for AOAH in microglia. Pharmacologic ablation of CNS microglia with PLX5622 resulted in decreased pelvic allodynia in AOAH-deficient mice and resurgence of pelvic pain upon drug washout. Skeletal analyses revealed that AOAH-deficient mice have an activated microglia morphology in the medial prefrontal cortex and paraventricular nucleus, brain regions associated with pain modulation. Because microglia express Toll-like receptors and respond to microbial components, we also examine the potential role of dysbiosis in microglial activation. Consistent with our hypothesis of microglia activation by leakage of gut microbes, we observed increased serum endotoxins in AOAH-deficient mice and increased activation of cultured BV2 microglial cells by stool of AOAH-deficient mice. Together, these findings demonstrate a role for AOAH in microglial modulation of pelvic pain and thus identify a novel therapeutic target for IC/BPS.
Initiating gender-affirming hormones for transgender and non-binary people: A qualitative study of providers’ perspectives on requiring mental health evaluations
Authors: Stroumsa Daphna , Minadeo Leah A. , Maksutova Mariam , Moravek Molly B. , Stephenson Rob , Pfeiffer Paul N. , Wu Justine P.
Published: August 2022

Objective

Gender-affirming hormones (GAH)—the use of sex hormones to induce desired secondary sex characteristics in transgender individuals—is vital healthcare for many transgender people. Among prescribers of GAH, there is debate regarding the value of a universal requirement for an evaluation by a mental health provider prior to GAH initiation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the range of attitudes and approaches to mental health evaluation among GAH providers in the United States. We analyzed the providers’ attitudes and base our recommendations on this analysis.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 healthcare providers who prescribe GAH across the United States. Participants were purposefully recruited using professional networks and snowball sampling to include those who require mental health evaluation and those who do not. We adapted domains from the Theoretical Domains Framework—a framework for understanding influences on health professional behavior—to inform the interviews and analysis. Guided by these domains, we iteratively coded text and identified theoretical relationships among the categories.

Results

While some felt a universal requirement for mental health “clearance” was necessary for the identification of appropriate candidates for GAH, others described this requirement as a form of “gatekeeping” that limits access to care. Themes we identified included providers’ ability to ascertain gender identity; concern about mental illness; GAH provider and mental health provider expertise; and provider roles. All providers appreciated the potential advantages of mental health support during GAH treatment.

Conclusion

Providers in our study practice on a continuum of care rather than adhering to strict rules about the requirement for mental health evaluation prior to GAH treatment. Where they fall on this continuum is influenced primarily by their perceptions of transgender identity and transition, and their interpretation of risk for significant mental illness and its association with transness. Providers who required universal evaluation by a mental health professional tended to hold essentialist, medicalized, and binary ideas of gender and transness.
Effect of timing of coronary revascularization in patients with post-infectious myocardial infarction
Authors: Tsai Chuan-Tsai , Lu Ya-Wen , Chou Ruey-Hsing , Kuo Chin-Sung , Huang Po-Hsun , Wu Cheng-Hsueh , Huang Shao-Sung
Published: August 2022

Objectives

Acute infection is a well-known provocative factor of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Prognosis is worse when it is associated with sepsis. Coronary revascularization is reported to provide benefit in these patients; however, the optimal timing remains uncertain.

Methods

This retrospective study was performed at a tertiary center in Taipei from January 2010 to December 2017. 1931 patients received coronary revascularization indicated for AMI. Among these, 239 patients were hospitalized for acute infection but later developed AMI. Patients with either an ST-elevation myocardial infarct or the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease were excluded. Revascularization was performed via either percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). We defined early and delayed revascularization groups if it was performed within or after 24 hours of the diagnosis of AMI, respectively. We evaluated whether the timing of revascularization altered 30-day and one-year all-cause mortality.

Results

At one month, 24 (26%) patients died in early revascularization group and 32 (22%) patients in delayed revascularization group. At one year, 40 (43%) and 59 (40%) patients died on early and delayed revascularization groups respectively. Early revascularization did not result in lower 30-day all-cause mortality (P = 0.424), and one-year all-cause mortality (Hazard ratio (HR): 0.935; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.626–1.397, P = 0.742) than delay revascularization.

Conclusions

Timing of coronary revascularization of post infectious acute coronary syndrome may be arranged according to individual risk category as those without sepsis.
The impacts of hydropower on freshwater macroinvertebrate richness: A global meta-analysis
Authors: Trottier Gabrielle , Turgeon Katrine , Boisclair Daniel , Bulle Cécile , Margni Manuele
Published: August 2022

Hydroelectric dams and their reservoirs have been suggested to affect freshwater biodiversity. Nevertheless, studies investigating the consequences of hydroelectric dams and reservoirs on macroinvertebrate richness have reached opposite conclusions. We performed a meta-analysis devised to elucidate the effects of hydropower, dams and reservoirs on macroinvertebrate richness while accounting for the potential role played by moderators such as biomes, impact types, study designs, sampling seasons and gears. We used a random/mixed-effects model, combined with robust variance estimation, to conduct the meta-analysis on 107 pairs of observations (i.e., impacted versus reference) extracted from 24 studies (more than one observation per study). Hydropower, dams and reservoirs did significantly impact (P = 0.04) macroinvertebrate richness in a clear, directional and statistically significant way, where macroinvertebrate richness in hydropower, dams and reservoirs impacted environments were significantly lower than in unimpacted environments. We also observed a large range of effect sizes, from very negative to very positive impacts of hydropower. We tried to account for the large variability in effect sizes using moderators, but none of the moderators included in the meta-analysis had statistically significant effects. This suggests that some other moderators (unavailable for the 24 studies) might be important (e.g., temperature, granulometry, wave disturbance and macrophytes) and that macroinvertebrate richness may be driven by local, smaller scale processes. As new studies become available, it would be interesting to keep enriching this meta-analysis, as well as collecting local habitat variables, to see if we could statistically strengthen and deepen the conclusions of this meta-analysis.
Immune hyporeactivity to bacteria and multiple TLR-ligands, yet no response to checkpoint inhibition in patients just after meeting Sepsis-3 criteria
Authors: Bick Alexandra , Buys Willem , Engler Andrea , Madel Rabea , Atia Mazen , Faro Francesca , Westendorf Astrid M. , Limmer Andreas , Buer Jan , Herbstreit Frank , Kirschning Carsten J. , Peters Jürgen
Published: August 2022

Rationale

The immune profile of sepsis patients is incompletely understood and hyperinflammation and hypoinflammation may occur concurrently or sequentially. Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) may counter hypoinflammation but effects are uncertain. We tested the reactivity of septic whole blood to bacteria, Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands and to ICI.

Methods

Whole blood assays of 61 patients’ samples within 24h of meeting sepsis-3 criteria and 12 age and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Measurements included pattern/danger-associated molecular pattern (P/DAMP), cytokine concentrations at baseline and in response to TLR 2, 4, and 7/8 ligands, heat-inactivated Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli, E.coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS), concentration of soluble and cellular immune checkpoint molecules, and cytokine concentrations in response to ICI directed against programmed-death receptor 1 (PD1), PD1-ligand 1, or cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4, both in the absence and presence of LPS.

Main results

In sepsis, concentrations of P/DAMPs and inflammatory cytokines were increased and the latter increased further upon incubation ex vivo. However, cytokine responses to TLR 2, 4, and 7/8 ligands, heat-inactivated S. aureus or E. coli, and E. coli LPS were all depressed. Depression of the response to LPS was associated with increased in-hospital mortality. Despite increased PD-1 expression on monocytes and T-cells, and monocyte CTLA-4 expression, however, addition of corresponding checkpoint inhibitors to assays failed to increase inflammatory cytokine concentrations in the absence and presence of LPS.

Conclusion

Patients first meeting Sepsis-3 criteria reveal 1) depressed responses to multiple TLR-ligands, bacteria, and bacterial LPS, despite concomitant inflammation, but 2) no response to immune checkpoint inhibition.
Water quality assessment based on Nemerow pollution index method: A case study of Heilongtan reservoir in central Sichuan province, China
Authors: Su Kai , Wang Qin , Li Linxiao , Cao Rong , Xi Yingwei , Li Guizhi
Published: August 2022

In this paper, three monitoring sections were set up in Heilongtan Reservoir, and water samples were collected in 2019, 2020, and 2021 for the determination of physical and chemical properties such as permanganate index, chemical oxygen demand, and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5). The water quality was evaluated by the single factor pollution index method and the Nemerow pollution index method, and the temporal and spatial changes of water quality were analyzed.The single factor pollution index method determines the water quality category by identifying the single worst indicator of water quality, based on the classified water quality category. The Nemerow pollution index method emphasizes the most polluting factor while also taking into account the contribution of other factors in the assessment system, and determines the water quality category through the comprehensive pollution index. The results of the study indicate that the monitoring indicators of the monitoring sections have reached the Category III water quality standard and above in the "Surface Water Environmental Quality Standard" during the three years 2019 to 2021. The Heilongtan Reservoir’s water quality in 2019, 2020, and 2021 is of Category I standard, according to the results of the evaluation of water quality using the single factor pollution index technique. According to the Nemerow pollution index method’s results for evaluating water quality, the water quality pollution index for the three monitoring sections as a whole ranges from 0.36 to 0.51 in three years. The three monitoring sections’ water quality—Dongfeng Canal, Longmiao, and Sixin Village—has not changed significantly during that time, remaining clean. In terms of temporal and spatial rates of change, the temporal rate of change (T) and spatial rate of change (S) over the three years were less than 20%, and the changes in water quality at each monitoring site were not significant.