bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Use of Lanreotide in the Treatment of Congenital Hyperinsulinism
Authors: Cuff Heather , Lord Katherine , Ballester Lance , Scully Tryce , Stewart Nicole , De Leon Diva D
Published: May 2022

Context

Congenital hyperinsulinism (HI) results in severe, persistent hypoglycemia and is associated with high risk of neurodevelopmental deficits. Sixty percent of HI cases are unresponsive to diazoxide, the only Food and Drug Administration–approved drug. Somatostatin analogs are used off-label as second-line treatment; the long-acting somatostatin analogue, lanreotide, has been used to treat HI over the past decade. Existing reports are limited to small case series.

Objective

To assess the effectiveness and safety of lanreotide in individuals with HI.

Design

Retrospective cohort study of individuals with HI treated with lanreotide between 2015 and 2020.

Setting

The Congenital Hyperinsulinism Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Patients

Fifty-four individuals with hyperinsulinism treated with lanreotide.

Main Outcome Measures

Fasting duration with plasma glucose > 70 mg/dL; frequency of lanreotide-associated side effects.

Results

The median duration of lanreotide therapy was 28.7 (2.8-64.5) months. Thirty-four patients (63%) had HI due to inactivating mutations of the adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) sensitive potassium channel (KATP-HI), and 39% had undergone a pancreatectomy. Of 52 patients receiving other HI therapies, 22 (42%) were able to discontinue other treatments and were managed on lanreotide alone. Fasting duration with plasma glucose > 70 mg/dL was significantly longer during therapy with lanreotide compared to prior to lanreotide initiation (8.6 ± 6.5 vs 5.1 ± 4.7 hours, P = 0.001). The most common side effects were subcutaneous nodules (26%) and gallstones (11%).

Conclusions

Lanreotide is a well-tolerated treatment for patients with HI. It results in a longer duration of fasting and a simplification of treatment regimens.
CCDC38 is required for sperm flagellum biogenesis and male fertility in mice
Authors: Zhang Ruidan , Wu Bingbing , Liu Chao , Zhang Zhe , Wang Xiuge , Wang Liying , Xiao Sai , Chen Yinghong , Wei Huafang , Jiang Hui , Gao Fei , Yuan Li , Li Wei
Published: May 2022

The sperm flagellum is essential for male fertility, and defects in flagellum biogenesis are associated with male infertility. Deficiency of coiled-coil domain-containing (CCDC) 42 (CCDC42) is specifically associated with malformation of mouse sperm flagella. Here, we find that the testis-specific protein CCDC38 interacts with CCDC42, localizing on the manchette and sperm tail during spermiogenesis. Inactivation of CCDC38 in male mice results in a distorted manchette, multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella of spermatozoa and eventually male sterility. Furthermore, we find that CCDC38 interacts with intraflagellar transport protein 88 (IFT88), as well as outer dense fibrous 2 (ODF2), and the knockout of Ccdc38 reduces transport of ODF2 to the flagellum. Altogether, our results uncover the essential role of CCDC38 in sperm flagellum biogenesis, and suggest that some mutations of these genes might be associated with male infertility in humans.
Specialized androgen synthesis in skeletal muscles that actuate elaborate social displays
Authors: Schuppe Eric R. , Tobiansky Daniel , Goller Franz , Fuxjager Matthew J.
Published: May 2022

Androgens mediate the expression of many reproductive behaviors, including the elaborate displays used to navigate courtship and territorial interactions. In some vertebrates, males can produce androgen-dependent sexual behavior even when levels of testosterone are low in the bloodstream. One idea is that select tissues make their own androgens from scratch to support behavioral performance. We first studied this phenomenon in the skeletal muscles that actuate elaborate sociosexual displays in downy woodpeckers and two songbirds. We show that the woodpecker display muscle maintains elevated testosterone when the testes are regressed in the non-breeding season. Both the display muscles of woodpeckers, as well as the display muscles in the avian vocal organ (syrinx) of songbirds, express all transporters and enzymes necessary to convert cholesterol into bioactive androgens locally. In a final analysis, we broadened our study by looking for these same transporters and enzymes in mammalian muscles that operate at different speeds. Using RNA-seq data, we found that the capacity for de novo synthesis is only present in ‘superfast’ extraocular muscle. Together, our results suggest that skeletal muscle specialized to generate extraordinary twitch times and/or extremely rapid contractile speeds may depend on androgenic hormones produced locally within the muscle itself. Our study therefore uncovers an important dimension of androgenic regulation of behavior.
Estimated number of deaths directly avoided because of COVID-19 vaccination among older adults in Colombia in 2021: an ecological, longitudinal observational study
Authors: Rojas-Botero Maylen Liseth , Fernández-Niño Julián Alfredo , Arregocés-Castillo Leonardo , Ruiz-Gómez Fernando
Published: May 2022

Background: Colombia’s national COVID-19 vaccination plan began in February of 2021. It gave priority to older adults, who constituted 77.7% of deaths from this illness in the year 2020. The main goal of the plan is to decrease specific mortality and the number of serious COVID-19 cases, however, the number of deaths avoided by this strategy is unknown. The objective of this study was to estimate the number of avoided deaths in Colombia by fully vaccinating older adults against COVID-19, during the first year of the implementation of the national vaccination plan.

Methods: This study took on the design of an ecological, longitudinal study. Full vaccination coverage for older adults was calculated for each epidemiological week and age group from March to December 2021, based on which the number of avoided COVID-19 deaths was estimated. A sensitivity analysis was performed taking into account variations in the vaccines’ effectiveness by age group.

Results: In Colombia, over 5.3 million adults 60 years of age and older received full COVID-19 vaccinations between March and December 2021. During that same period, nearly 46,000 deaths of older adults from this cause were registered. We estimated that vaccination has avoided around 22,000 more older adults from dying from COVID-19 in Colombia, that is, 32.4% of expected deaths in 2021. According to the sensitivity analysis, the number of lives saved ranged from 19,597 to 36,507.

Conclusions: Colombia’s strategy to vaccinate older adults against COVID-19 has avoided mortality for this age group from being 48.0% higher than what was observed during the study period. Even more lives have been saved when taking into account the parameters that were defined and the omission of the contribution from partial vaccinations.
CLIMA Y CULTURA. ARQUITECTURA MODERNA EN ÁFRICA
Authors: Tostões Ana
Published: May 2022

El diseño sensible al clima es una realidad en expansión en las regiones subsaharianas de África desde los años 50. Tal es el caso de Angola y Mozambique, amplios territorios del África subsahariana que testimonian un importante impulso de desarrollo entre el final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial y la revolución democrática portuguesa del 24 de abril de 1974 que, al año siguiente, condujo a la independencia política de estos dos países africanos. La búsqueda formal, tecnológica e ideológica del Movimiento Moderno surgió como un estímulo cultural ligado a las especificidades geográficas y climáticas y, éstas, promovieron nuevas expresiones y escalas. La adaptación al clima local se basó en programas y soluciones arquitectónicas desarrolladas para explotar el uso de los espacios abiertos, utilizando galerías de circulación e introduciendo dispositivos para mantener la circulación permanente del aire y controlar la admisión de la luz solar directa.
TECNOLOGÍA PARA EL ACONDICIONAMIENTO EXTERIOR: EL PARQUE CENTRAL DE TAICHUNG
Authors: Vázquez Renedo Javier , García Herrero Jesús , Bedoya Frutos César
Published: May 2022

En 2018 se inauguró el parque central de Taichung en Taiwán, proyectado por el arquitecto suizo Philippe Rahm. El también conocido como Jade Eco Park, parte del análisis de las condiciones medioambientales del entorno para configurar el espacio exterior según diferentes valores de temperatura, humedad y contaminación. Para ello se emplean elementos pasivos y naturales entrelazados con dispositivos mecánicos que utilizan energías renovables. En un periodo donde las condiciones climáticas exteriores cada vez van a ser más adversas, la tecnología utilizada en este proyecto puede ser muy útil para los desarrollos urbanos en zonas cálidas. El artículo aprovecha la descripción del proyecto para exponer la vinculación entre la visión atmosférica de Phillippe Rahm, con los planteamientos teóricos desarrollados anteriormente por György Kepes o Richard Buckminster Fuller a escala urbana. Además, se pretende reflexionar sobre la idoneidad de emplear estos sistemas de acondicionamiento urbano para mejorar las condiciones exteriores de regiones como la del Mediterráneo. Aunque las características ambientales de la tecnología empleada están intrínsecamente relacionadas con la concepción fenomenológica del proyecto, se intenta diferenciar aquellas actuaciones que, más allá de aportar una experiencia sensorial, tienen un marcado uso climático y se podrían adaptar fácilmente con esta finalidad en otros proyectos.
Tesoros de la Guerra Sertoriana en Catalunya.
Authors: AMELA VALVERDE Luis
Published: May 2022

Breve estudio de los cinco tesoros conocidos de la guerra sertoriana (82-72 a.C.) aparecidos en Catalunya (cuatro compuestos por monedas de plata y uno de bronce). Su distinta composición muestra la diversidad de situaciones y de los propietarios de estos conjuntos.

Palabras clave: Guerra sertoriana, Catalunya, ocultaciones monetales, circulación dracmas de Emporion
Finding intracellular lipid droplets from the single-cell biolens’ signature in a holographic flow-cytometry assay
Authors: Pirone Daniele , Sirico Daniele G. , Mugnano Martina , Del Giudice Danila , Kurelac Ivana , Cavina Beatrice , Memmolo Pasquale , Miccio Lisa , Ferraro Pietro
Published: May 2022

In recent years, intracellular LDs have been discovered to play an important role in several pathologies. Therefore, detection of LDs would provide an in-demand diagnostic tool if coupled with flow-cytometry to give significant statistical analysis and especially if the diagnosis is made in full non-invasive mode. Here we combine the experimental results of in-flow tomographic phase microscopy with a suited numerical simulation to demonstrate that intracellular LDs can be easily detected through a label-free approach based on the direct analysis of the 2D quantitative phase maps recorded by a holographic flow cytometer. In fact, we demonstrate that the presence of LDs affects the optical focusing lensing features of the embracing cell, which can be considered a biological lens. The research was conducted on white blood cells (i.e., lymphocytes and monocytes) and ovarian cancer cells. Results show that the biolens properties of cells can be a rapid biomarker that aids in boosting the diagnosis of LDs-related pathologies by means of the holographic flow-cytometry assay for fast, non-destructive, and high-throughput screening of statistically significant number of cells.
Highly switchable absorption in a metal hydride device using a near-zero-index substrate
Authors: Palm Kevin J. , Krayer Lisa J. , Munday Jeremy N.
Published: May 2022

Optical switchability is an important functionality for photonic devices, which allows them to accommodate a wide range of applications. One way to achieve this switchability is to utilize the reversible and tunable optical changes of metal hydrides. When exposed to H2 gas, certain metals go through dramatic changes in optical properties as hydrogen atoms expand the lattice spacing. In this paper, we propose a switchable absorption device consisting of a Pd-capped Mg thin film deposited onto a near-zero-index substrate. By utilizing Mg’s extreme optical changes upon hydrogenation and combining it with the high optical contrast of the near-zero-index substrate, we can create a device that is fully switchable from a highly reflective state to a broadband absorbing state. When modeling the substrate as a Drude material with a plasma wavelength of 600 nm, we calculate an absorption change of > 70% from 650–1230 nm, with a peak total absorption of 78% at 905 nm. We experimentally demonstrate this effect using 25 nm of Mg with a 3 nm Pd capping layer deposited onto an ITO-coated glass substrate. This device achieves an absorption change of 76% at 1335 nm illumination, with a maximum absorption of 93% in the hydride state, utilizing ITO’s near-zero-index region in the near-infrared. By tuning the near-zero-index region of the substrate, this effect can be extended from the visible through the infrared.
High-resolution dual comb spectroscopy using a free-running, bidirectional ring titanium sapphire laser
Authors: Galtier Sandrine , Pivard Clément , Morville Jérôme , Rairoux Patrick
Published: May 2022

We report the first measurement of resolved molecular absorption lines with dual-comb spectroscopy using a Kerr-lens mode-locked bidirectional Ti:sapphire ring laser cavity. A 3 nm broad spectrum has been recorded in 5.3 ms with a spectral resolution of ≈ 1 GHz (0.05 cm-1) corresponding to a relative spectral resolution of 2.5 × 10−6. The measurement of spectrally resolved molecular absorption lines have been demonstrated on the oxygen A-band at 394 THz (760 nm, 13 000 cm−1) and was obtained with two free-running 100 fs Ti:sapphire trains of pulses without the need for active phase stabilization protocol nor real-time or post-processing correction. This work demonstrates that the bidirectional laser configuration enables a sufficient level of absolute and mutual coherence for dual-comb spectroscopy of resolved molecular absorption lines. Considering the high versatility of Ti:sapphire emission spectral range (from 600 to 1100 nm) with high-peak powers, the here reported results pave the way for Dual-Comb spectroscopy in the UV range at mW average output power using a standalone set-up, in the aim to extend its applicability for atmospheric remote-sensing.
Highly emissive spaceborne blackbody radiation source based on light capture
Authors: Zhou Jingjing , Hao Xiaopeng , Wang Xia , Song Jian , Xing Zhao , Li Xiuju , Wang Baoyong , Han Changpei , Sima Rui-Heng
Published: May 2022

Highly emissive spaceborne blackbody radiation sources are important devices for infrared value traceability by providing accurate infrared radiation to calibrate infrared load. To meet the needs of the radiation calibration accuracy needed for infrared remote sensing, this paper proposes a highly emissive blackbody that uses cubic reflection and an absorption method based on light capture. An emissivity simulation based on ray tracing was carried out. The influences of specular reflection (SR), near specular reflection (NSR), and diffuse reflection (DR) on the emissivity of the blackbody were analyzed. Two blackbodies with NSR and DR were fabricated, simulated, and tested experimentally; the experimental and simulation results were consistent.
Torsion-tunable OAM mode generator based on oxyhydrogen-flame fabricated helical long-period fiber grating
Authors: Liu Shen , Zhou Min , Shao Laipeng , Zhang Zhe , Bai Zhiyong , Wang Yiping
Published: May 2022

We demonstrate a class of all-fiber torsion-tunable orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode generators based on oxyhydrogen-flame fabricated helical long-period fiber gratings (HLPFGs). The 1-order and 3-order OAM modes are excited based on the HLPFGs inscribed in the single-mode fiber (SMF) and six-mode fiber (6MF), respectively. Theoretical analysis reveals that the twisting can result a resonant wavelength shift of the HLPFG, which means that the OAM modes can also be excited at various wavelength by simply applying a twist rate on the HLPFG. Experiments are carried out to characterize the torsional tunability of the OAM modes, and the results show that the 1-order and 3-order OAM modes can be excited at various wavelength of ∼1564 - 1585 nm and ∼1552 - 1574 nm, respectively, when the torsion angle varied from −360° to 360°, which is consistent with the theoretical analysis. Therefore, the HLPFG can be a candidate for all-fiber wavelength tunable OAM mode generator.
Simultaneously precise frequency response and IQ skew calibration in a self-homodyne coherent optical transmission system
Authors: Dai Longquan , Huang Chuanming , Li Hongyu , Cheng Mengfan , Yang Qi , Tang Ming , Liu Deming , Deng Lei
Published: May 2022

The self-homodyne coherent detection (SHCD) system is becoming more popular in intra-data center applications nowadays. However, for a high-speed SHCD system, the device imperfection such as transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) side in-phase (I)/quadrature-phase (Q) time skew and bandwidth limitation will greatly restrict the transmission performance. The current mainstream calibration methods for traditional optical transceivers rely on the effect of frequency offset and phase noise to separate the Tx and Rx imperfection, which is not compatible with the SHCD system. In this paper, we have proposed and demonstrated a highly precise calibration method that can be applied in dual-polarization (DP) SHCD system. Based on the specially designed multi-tone signals, the amplitude/phase frequency response (AFR/PFR) of the transceiver and the Tx/Rx IQ skew can be obtained by just one measurement even after long-distance fiber transmission. By using a 4 MHz linewidth distributed feedback (DFB) laser, a DP SHCD transmission system combined with a 20 GHz optical transceiver and two 10 km standard single-mode fibers is experimentally constructed. The test results indicate that the measurement error of the AFR/PFR and Tx/Rx skew are within ±1dB/±0.15rad and ±0.3ps respectively, and the dynamic range for IQ skew calibration can reach dozens of picoseconds. The measured bit error rate value of 46GBaud DP-16QAM signals/35GBaud DP-64QAM signals are improved from 2.30e-2 to 2.18e-3/9.59e-2 to 2.20e-2 with the help of the proposed calibration method.
Terahertz switchable VO2-Au hybrid active metasurface holographic encryption
Authors: Dong Bowen , Zhao Ruizhe , Wei Qunshuo , Lu Xueguang , Huang Wanxia , Wang Jiafu , Ma Hua , Huang Lingling
Published: May 2022

The combination of metasurface and holographic technology is the most cutting-edge development, but most of the proposed designs are static and do not allow active changes through external stimulation after fabrication, which takes only a limited part of the advantage provided by metasurface. Here, we propose and demonstrate a switchable hybrid active metasurface hologram in the terahertz (THz) regime composed of dynamic pixels (VO2-CSRR) and static pixels (Au-CSRR) based on an intelligent algorithm, which can display some/all information in different temperature ranges. In particular, such performance shows excellent potential in the field of optical communication security, making it a promising candidate. To prove this possibility, we propose a scheme for optical information encryption/decryption and transmission, which takes metasurfaces as carriers of encrypted information and state/polarization/positions as the secret key components. Only when the two matches correctly can we get the hidden real information. The security of our proposed scheme has reached an unprecedented level, providing a new road for communication security.
A computational model of stereoscopic prey capture in praying mantises
Authors: O’Keeffe James , Yap Sin Hui , Llamas-Cornejo Ichasus , Nityananda Vivek , Read Jenny C. A.
Published: May 2022

We present a simple model which can account for the stereoscopic sensitivity of praying mantis predatory strikes. The model consists of a single “disparity sensor”: a binocular neuron sensitive to stereoscopic disparity and thus to distance from the animal. The model is based closely on the known behavioural and neurophysiological properties of mantis stereopsis. The monocular inputs to the neuron reflect temporal change and are insensitive to contrast sign, making the sensor insensitive to interocular correlation. The monocular receptive fields have a excitatory centre and inhibitory surround, making them tuned to size. The disparity sensor combines inputs from the two eyes linearly, applies a threshold and then an exponent output nonlinearity. The activity of the sensor represents the model mantis’s instantaneous probability of striking. We integrate this over the stimulus duration to obtain the expected number of strikes in response to moving targets with different stereoscopic disparity, size and vertical disparity. We optimised the parameters of the model so as to bring its predictions into agreement with our empirical data on mean strike rate as a function of stimulus size and disparity. The model proves capable of reproducing the relatively broad tuning to size and narrow tuning to stereoscopic disparity seen in mantis striking behaviour. Although the model has only a single centre-surround receptive field in each eye, it displays qualitatively the same interaction between size and disparity as we observed in real mantids: the preferred size increases as simulated prey distance increases beyond the preferred distance. We show that this occurs because of a stereoscopic “false match” between the leading edge of the stimulus in one eye and its trailing edge in the other; further work will be required to find whether such false matches occur in real mantises. Importantly, the model also displays realistic responses to stimuli with vertical disparity and to pairs of identical stimuli offering a “ghost match”, despite not being fitted to these data. This is the first image-computable model of insect stereopsis, and reproduces key features of both neurophysiology and striking behaviour.
Linear viscoelastic properties of the vertex model for epithelial tissues
Authors: Tong Sijie , Singh Navreeta K. , Sknepnek Rastko , Košmrlj Andrej
Published: May 2022

Epithelial tissues act as barriers and, therefore, must repair themselves, respond to environmental changes and grow without compromising their integrity. Consequently, they exhibit complex viscoelastic rheological behavior where constituent cells actively tune their mechanical properties to change the overall response of the tissue, e.g., from solid-like to fluid-like. Mesoscopic mechanical properties of epithelia are commonly modeled with the vertex model. While previous studies have predominantly focused on the rheological properties of the vertex model at long time scales, we systematically studied the full dynamic range by applying small oscillatory shear and bulk deformations in both solid-like and fluid-like phases for regular hexagonal and disordered cell configurations. We found that the shear and bulk responses in the fluid and solid phases can be described by standard spring-dashpot viscoelastic models. Furthermore, the solid-fluid transition can be tuned by applying pre-deformation to the system. Our study provides insights into the mechanisms by which epithelia can regulate their rich rheological behavior.
Increased genetic contribution to wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Warmerdam C. A. Robert , Wiersma Henry H. , Lanting Pauline , Ani Alireza ,   Lifelines Corona Research Initiative,   Lifelines Cohort Study, Dijkema Marjolein X. L. , Snieder Harold , Vonk Judith M. , Boezen H. Marike , Deelen Patrick , Franke Lude H.
Published: May 2022

Physical and mental health are determined by an interplay between nature, for example genetics, and nurture, which encompasses experiences and exposures that can be short or long-lasting. The COVID-19 pandemic represents a unique situation in which whole communities were suddenly and simultaneously exposed to both the virus and the societal changes required to combat the virus. We studied 27,537 population-based biobank participants for whom we have genetic data and extensive longitudinal data collected via 19 questionnaires over 10 months, starting in March 2020. This allowed us to explore the interaction between genetics and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals’ wellbeing over time. We observe that genetics affected many aspects of wellbeing, but also that its impact on several phenotypes changed over time. Over the course of the pandemic, we observed that the genetic predisposition to life satisfaction had an increasing influence on perceived quality of life. We also estimated heritability and the proportion of variance explained by shared environment using variance components methods based on pedigree information and household composition. The results suggest that people’s genetic constitution manifested more prominently over time, potentially due to social isolation driven by strict COVID-19 containment measures. Overall, our findings demonstrate that the relative contribution of genetic variation to complex phenotypes is dynamic rather than static.
Phylogenetic and protein prediction analysis reveals the taxonomically diverse distribution of virulence factors in Bacillus cereus strains
Authors: Zhang Ming , Liu Jun , Yin Zhenzhen , Zhang Li
Published: May 2022

Bacillus cereus is a food contaminant with widely varying enterotoxic potential due to its virulence proteins. In this article, phylogenetic analysis of the amino acid sequences from the whole-genomes of 41 strains, evolutionary distance calculation of the amino acid sequences of the virulence genes, and functional and structural predictions of the virulence proteins were performed to reveal the taxonomically diverse distribution of virulence factors. The genome evolution of the strains showed a clustering trend based on the protein-coding virulence genes. The strains of B. cereus have evolved into non-toxic risk and toxic risk clusters with medium-high- and medium-low-risk subclusters. The evolutionary transfer distances of incomplete virulence genes relative to housekeeping genes were greater than those of complete virulence genes, and the distance values of HblACD were higher than those of nheABC and CytK among the complete virulence genes. Cytoplasmic localization was impossible for all the virulence proteins, and NheB, NheC, Hbl-B, and Hbl-L1 were predicted to be extracellular. Nhe and Hbl proteins except CytK had similar spatial structures. The predicted structures of Nhe and Hbl mainly showed ‘head’ and ‘tail’ domains. The ‘head’ of NheA and Hbl-B, including two α-helices separated by β-tongue strands, might play a special role in the formation of Nhe trimers and Hbl trimers, respectively. The ‘cap’ of CytK, which includes two ‘latches’ with many β-sheets, formed a β-barrel structure with pores, and a ‘rim’ balanced the structure. The evolution of B. cereus strains showed a clustering tendency based on the protein-coding virulence genes, and the complete virulence-gene operon combination had higher relative genetic stability. The beta-tongue or latch associated with β-sheet folding might play an important role in the binding of virulence structures and pore-forming toxins in B. cereus.
Improved WOA and its application in feature selection
Authors: Liu Wei , Guo Zhiqing , Jiang Feng , Liu Guangwei , Wang Dong , Ni Zishun
Published: May 2022

Feature selection (FS) can eliminate many redundant, irrelevant, and noisy features in high-dimensional data to improve machine learning or data mining models’ prediction, classification, and computational performance. We proposed an improved whale optimization algorithm (IWOA) and improved k-nearest neighbors (IKNN) classifier approaches for feature selection (IWOAIKFS). Firstly, WOA is improved by using chaotic elite reverse individual, probability selection of skew distribution, nonlinear adjustment of control parameters and position correction strategy to enhance the search performance of the algorithm for feature subsets. Secondly, the sample similarity measurement criterion and weighted voting criterion based on the simulated annealing algorithm to solve the weight matrix M are proposed to improve the KNN classifier and improve the evaluation performance of the algorithm on feature subsets. The experimental results show: IWOA not only has better optimization performance when solving benchmark functions of different dimensions, but also when used with IKNN for feature selection, IWOAIKFS has better classification and robustness.
Molecular characterization and validation of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrids through SSR markers
Authors: Ahmed Hafiz Ghulam Muhu-Din , Rizwan Muhammad , Naeem Muhammad , Khan Muhammad Ahsan , Baloch Faheem Shehzad , Sun Sangmi , Chung Gyuhwa
Published: May 2022

Genetic purity is a prerequisite for exploiting the potential of hybrids in cross-pollinated crops, such as sunflower. In this regard DNA-based study was conducted using 110 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to check the genetic purity of 23 parents and their 60 hybrids in sunflower. The polymorphism was shown in 92 markers with value 83.63%. The SSR markers ORS-453 and CO-306 showed the highest PIC values of 0.76 and 0.74, respectively. The primer ORS-453 amplified allele size of 310 base pairs (bp) for female parent L6 and 320 bp for L11, while for male parents, T1 and T2 had allele size 350 bp and 340 bp, respectively. The hybrids from these parents showed a similar size of alleles with parents, including hybrids L6×T1 (310 bp and 350 bp), L6×T2 (310 bp and 340 bp), and L11×T2 (320 bp and 340 bp). Similarly, the primer CO-306 amplified allele size 350 bp and 330 bp for female parents L6 and L11, respectively, while, allele size 300 bp and 310 bp for male parents T1 and T2, respectively. The hybrids’ allele size was like the parents viz., L6×T1 (350 bp and 300 bp), L6×T2 (350 bp and 310 bp), and L11×T2 (330 bp and 310 bp). All 60 hybrids and their 23 parents were grouped into three main clusters (A, B and C) based upon DARWIN v.6.0 and STRUCTURE v.2.3 Bayesian analyses using genotypic data. Further, each main cluster was divided into two sub-divisions. Each sub-division showed the relatedness of parents and their hybrids, thus authenticating the genetic purity of hybrids. In conclusion, this study provides useful for accurate and effective identification of hybrids, which will help to improve seed genetic purity testing globally.
A randomized controlled trial of a video intervention shows evidence of increasing COVID-19 vaccination intention
Authors: Witus Leah S. , Larson Erik
Published: May 2022

Increasing acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines is imperative for public health. Previous research on educational interventions to overcome vaccine hesitancy have shown mixed effects in increasing vaccination intention, although much of this work has focused on parental attitudes toward childhood vaccination. In this study, we conducted a randomized controlled trial to investigate whether vaccination intention changes after viewing an animated YouTube video explaining how COVID-19 mRNA vaccines work. We exposed participants to one of four interventions–watching the video with a male narrator, watching the same video with a female narrator, reading the text of the transcript of the video, or receiving no information (control group). We found that participants who watched the version of the video with a male narrator expressed statistically significant increased vaccination intention compared to the control group. The video with a female narrator had more variation in results. As a whole, there was a non-significant increased vaccination intention when analyzing all participants who saw the video with a female narrator; however, for politically conservative participants there was decreased vaccination intention for this intervention compared to the control group at a threshold between being currently undecided and expressing probable interest. These results are encouraging for the ability of interventions as simple as YouTube videos to increase vaccination propensity, although the inconsistent response to the video with a female narrator demonstrates the potential for bias to affect how certain groups respond to different messengers.
Connecting past to present: Examining different approaches to linking historical redlining to present day health inequities
Authors: Noelke Clemens , Outrich Michael , Baek Mikyung , Reece Jason , Osypuk Theresa L. , McArdle Nancy , Ressler Robert W. , Acevedo-Garcia Dolores
Published: May 2022

In the 1930’s, the Home Owner Loan Corporation (HOLC) drafted maps to quantify variation in real estate credit risk across US city neighborhoods. The letter grades and associated risk ratings assigned to neighborhoods discriminated against those with black, lower class, or immigrant residents and benefitted affluent white neighborhoods. An emerging literature has begun linking current individual and community health effects to government redlining, but each study faces the same measurement problem: HOLC graded area boundaries and neighborhood boundaries in present-day health datasets do not match. Previous studies have taken different approaches to classify present day neighborhoods (census tracts) in terms of historical HOLC grades. This study reviews these approaches, examines empirically how different classifications fare in terms of predictive validity, and derives a predictively optimal present-day neighborhood redlining classification for neighborhood and health research.
Pandemic responsiveness: Evidence from social distancing and lockdown policy during COVID-19
Authors: Besley Timothy , Dray Sacha
Published: May 2022

We study changes in social distancing and government policy in response to local outbreaks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using aggregated county-level data from approximately 20 million smartphones in the United States, we show that social distancing behaviors have responded to local outbreaks: a 1% increase in new cases (deaths) is associated with a 3% (11%) increase in social distancing intensity. Responsiveness is reinforced by the presence of public measures restricting movements, but remains significant in their absence. Responsiveness is higher in high-income, more educated, or Democrat-leaning counties, and in counties with low health insurance coverage. By contrast, social capital and vulnerability to infection are strongly associated with more social distancing but not with more responsiveness. Our results point to the importance of politics, trust and reciprocity for compliance with social distancing, while material constraints are more critical for being responsive to new risks such as the emergence of variants.
What drives willingness to receive a new vaccine that prevents an emerging infectious disease? A discrete choice experiment among university students in Uganda
Authors: Bonner Kimberly E. , Ssekyanzi Henry , Sicsic Jonathan , Mueller Judith E. , Toomey Traci , Ulrich Angela K. , Horvath Keith J. , Neaton James D. , Banura Cecily , Basta Nicole E.
Published: May 2022

Background

There is a critical need to identify the drivers of willingness to receive new vaccines against emerging and epidemic diseases. A discrete choice experiment is the ideal approach to evaluating how individuals weigh multiple attributes simultaneously. We assessed the degree to which six attributes were associated with willingness to be vaccinated among university students in Uganda.

Methods

We conducted a single-profile discrete choice experiment at Makerere University in 2019. Participants were asked whether or not they would be vaccinated in 8 unique scenarios where attributes varied by disease risk, disease severity, advice for or against vaccination from trusted individuals, recommendations from influential figures, whether the vaccine induced indirect protection, and side effects. We calculated predicted probabilities of vaccination willingness using mixed logistic regression models, comparing health professional students with all other disciplines.

Findings

Of the 1576 participants, 783 (49.8%) were health professional students and 685 (43.5%) were female. Vaccination willingness was high (78%), and higher among health students than other students. We observed the highest vaccination willingness for the most severe disease outcomes and the greatest exposure risks, along with the Minister of Health’s recommendation or a vaccine that extended secondary protection to others. Mild side effects and recommendations against vaccination diminished vaccination willingness.

Interpretation

Our results can be used to develop evidence-based messaging to encourage uptake for new vaccines. Future vaccination campaigns, such as for COVID-19 vaccines in development, should consider acknowledging individual risk of exposure and disease severity and incorporate recommendations from key health leaders.
A scoping review of information provided within degenerative cervical myelopathy education resources: Towards enhancing shared decision making
Authors: Umeria Rishi , Mowforth Oliver , Grodzinski Ben , Karimi Zahabiya , Sadler Iwan , Wood Helen , Sangeorzan Irina , Fagan Petrea , Murphy Rory , McNair Angus , Davies Benjamin
Published: May 2022

Background

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a chronic neurological condition estimated to affect 1 in 50 adults. Due to its diverse impact, trajectory and management options, patient-centred care and shared decision making are essential. In this scoping review, we aim to explore whether information needs in DCM are currently being met in available DCM educational resources. This forms part of a larger Myelopathy.org project to promote shared decision making in DCM.

Methods

A search was completed encompassing MEDLINE, Embase and grey literature. Resources relevant to DCM were compiled for analysis. Resources were grouped into 5 information types: scientific literature, videos, organisations, health education websites and patient information leaflets. Resources were then further arranged into a hierarchical framework of domains and subdomains, formed through inductive analysis. Frequency statistics were employed to capture relative popularity as a surrogate marker of potential significance.

Results

Of 2674 resources, 150 information resources addressing DCM were identified: 115 scientific literature resources, 28 videos, 5 resources from health organisations and 2 resources from health education websites. Surgical management was the domain with the largest number of resources (66.7%, 100/150). The domain with the second largest number of resources was clinical presentation and natural history (28.7%, 43/150). Most resources (83.3%, 125/150) were designed for professionals. A minority (11.3% 17/150) were written for a lay audience or for a combined audience (3.3%, 5/150).

Conclusion

Educational resources for DCM are largely directed at professionals and focus on surgical management. This is at odds with the needs of stakeholders in a lifelong condition that is often managed without surgery, highlighting an unmet educational need.
Distribution characteristics of the sabA, hofC, homA, homB and frpB-4 genes of Helicobacter pylori in different regions of China
Authors: Fang Mengyang , Xue Zhijing , He Lihua , You Yuanhai , Gong Yanan , Fan Dongjie , Sun Lu , Zhai Kangle , Yang Yaming , Zhang Jianzhong
Published: May 2022

Background

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) encodes numerous outer membrane proteins (OMPs), with considerable geographic heterogeneity and related to different clinical outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the distribution characteristics of five important OMP genes (sabA, hofC, homA, homB and frpB-4) in different regions of China.

Materials and method

A total of 266 strains were isolated from 348 stomach biopsy specimens in Shandong, Guangxi, Heilongjiang, Hunan, and Qinghai provinces. The presence of sabA, hofC, homA, homB and frpB-4 gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from H. pylori genomic DNA.

Results

Among the strains in five regions, the prevalence of frpB-4 was 100% and that of hofC was 97.7%. The prevalence of homB in the isolates from Qinghai (45.5%) was significantly lower than that in Shandong (75.3%), Guangxi (76.9%) and Hunan (69.6%) (P<0.05). The frequency of homA in Shandong (30.1%) was significantly lower than in Guangxi (57.7%) and Qinghai (63.6%) (P<0.05). The prevalence of the sabA gene in Shandong, Guangxi, Heilongjiang, Hunan and Qinghai provinces was 21.9%, 59.7%, 45.9%, 52.2%, and 18.2%, respectively (P<0.05). The sabA “on” status was significantly more frequent in isolates from Guangxi (46.8%), Heilongjiang (37.8%), and Hunan (47.8%) than Qinghai (3.0%) (P<0.05). The presence of homA and sabA genes may be negatively correlated with the development of gastritis. There was no significant association between the frpB-4, hofC, homB gene and clinical outcomes.

Conclusion

The prevalence of homA, homB, and sabA genes and the sabA “on” or “off” status have significant geographical differences among five provinces in China. The presence of homA and sabA genes may be protective factors of gastritis.
Tuned in to communication sounds: Neuronal sensitivity in the túngara frog midbrain to frequency modulated signals
Authors: Ponnath Abhilash , Ryan Michael J. , Fang Zhide , Farris Hamilton E.
Published: May 2022

For complex communication signals, it is often difficult to identify the information-bearing elements and their parameters necessary to elicit functional behavior. Consequently, it may be difficult to design stimuli that test how neurons contribute to communicative processing. For túngara frogs (Physalaemus pustulosus), however, previous behavioral testing with numerous stimuli showed that a particular frequency modulated (FM) transition in the male call is required to elicit phonotaxis and vocal responses. Modeled on such behavioral experiments, we used awake in vivo recordings of single units in the midbrain to determine if their excitation was biased to behaviorally important FM parameters. Comparisons of stimulus driven action potentials revealed greatest excitation to the behaviorally important FM transition: a downward FM sweep or step that crosses ~600 Hz. Previous studies using long-duration acoustic exposure found immediate early gene expression in many midbrain neurons to be most sensitive to similar FM. However, those data could not determine if FM coding was accomplished by the population and/or individual neurons. Our data suggest both coding schemes could operate, as 1) individual neurons are more sensitive to the behaviorally significant FM transition and 2) when single unit recordings are analytically combined across cells, the combined code can produce high stimulus discrimination (FM vs. noise driven excitation), approaching that found in behavioral discrimination of call vs. noise.
Determinants of hospital outcomes for patients with COVID-19 in the University of Pennsylvania Health System
Authors: Shaw Pamela A. , Yang Jasper B. , Mowery Danielle L. , Schriver Emily R. , Mahoney Kevin B. , Bar Katharine J. , Ellenberg Susan S.
Published: May 2022

There is growing evidence that racial and ethnic minorities bear a disproportionate burden from COVID-19. Temporal changes in the pandemic epidemiology and diversity in the clinical course require careful study to identify determinants of poor outcomes. We analyzed 6255 hospitalized individuals with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from one of 5 hospitals in the University of Pennsylvania Health System between March 2020 and March 2021, using electronic health records to assess risk factors and outcomes through 8 weeks post-admission. Discharge, readmission and mortality outcomes were analyzed in a multi-state model with multivariable Cox models for each transition. Mortality varied markedly over time, with cumulative incidence (95% CI) 30 days post-admission of 19.1% (16.9, 21.3) in March-April 2020, 5.7% (4.2, 7.5) in July-October 2020 and 10.5% (9.1,12.0) in January-March 2021; 26% of deaths occurred after discharge. Average age (SD) at admission varied from 62.7 (17.6) to 54.8 (19.9) to 60.5 (18.1); mechanical ventilation use declined from 21.3% to 9–11%. Compared to Caucasian, Black race was associated with more severe disease at admission, higher rates of co-morbidities and residing in a low-income zip code. Between-race risk differences in mortality risk diminished in multivariable models; while admitting hospital, increasing age, admission early in the pandemic, and severe disease and low blood pressure at admission were associated with increased mortality hazard. Hispanic ethnicity was associated with fewer baseline co-morbidities and lower mortality hazard (0.57, 95% CI: 0.37, .087). Multi-state modeling allows for a unified framework to analyze multiple outcomes throughout the disease course. Morbidity and mortality for hospitalized COVID-19 patients varied over time but post-discharge mortality remained non-trivial. Black race was associated with more risk factors for morbidity and with treatment at hospitals with lower mortality. Multivariable models suggest there are not between-race differences in outcomes. Future work is needed to better understand the identified between-hospital differences in mortality.
Accounting for heading date gene effects allows detection of small-effect QTL associated with resistance to Septoria nodorum blotch in wheat
Authors: Rivera-Burgos Luis A. , Brown-Guedira Gina , Johnson Jerry , Mergoum Mohamed , Cowger Christina
Published: May 2022

In humid and temperate areas, Septoria nodorum blotch (SNB) is a major fungal disease of common wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) in which grain yield is reduced when the pathogen,Parastagonospora nodorum, infects leaves and glumes during grain filling. Foliar SNB susceptibility may be associated with sensitivity toP.nodorumnecrotrophic effectors (NEs). Both foliar and glume susceptibility are quantitative, and the underlying genetics are not understood in detail. We genetically mapped resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) to leaf and glume blotch using a double haploid (DH) population derived from the cross between the moderately susceptible cultivar AGS2033 and the resistant breeding line GA03185-12LE29. The population was evaluated for SNB resistance in the field in four successive years (2018–2021). We identified major heading date (HD) and plant height (PH) variants on chromosomes 2A and 2D, co-located with SNB escape mechanisms. Five QTL with small effects associated with adult plant resistance to SNB leaf and glume blotch were detected on 1A, 1B, and 6B linkage groups. These QTL explained a relatively small proportion of the total phenotypic variation, ranging from 5.6 to 11.8%. The small-effect QTL detected in this study did not overlap with QTL associated with morphological and developmental traits, and thus are sources of resistance to SNB.